Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-08

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The diagram below shows how one type of desert, known as a rain-shadow desert, is formed.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The formation of rain-shadow deserts

Student answer (Band 6.0)

The diagram provides an illustration of the process of by which a type of desert, known as shadow desert, is formed.

Overall, formation of rain-shadow desert involves series of stages, begining with the moist wind approaching the coast and rising over the mountain, followed by cooling, cloud formation and rainfall on the Windward side. As the air decends on the Leeward side, it becomes dry and eventually reaches the inland area, resulting in the formation of a rain-shadow desert.

As we can, the first step includes the approaching of humid air from the sea to the coast of mountain. Then it went up to the top of mountain. Meanwhile, the moist air rises up, it get cold and make clouds, eventually resulting in rainfall on the Windward side of the mountain.

Moreover, when the clouds goes down toward Leeward side, it becomes dry air. At the end, the fry air reaches the inland. It results in formation of rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main sequence and provide a clear overview: moist air approaches from the sea, rises over the mountain, cools, forms clouds and produces rain on the windward side, while dry air reaches inland and creates the desert. This captures the diagram’s central cause-and-effect process. Some details are less fully or accurately described, however. The diagram shows dry air continuing over the mountain and descending on the leeward side; your account instead says “the clouds goes down,” which misidentifies what moves. The opening also calls it a “shadow desert” rather than consistently naming a rain-shadow desert. To strengthen the response further, describe the transition from moist to dry air precisely and include the diagram’s broad inland extent.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the stages in sequence. Connectors such as “Overall,” “Then,” “Moreover,” and “At the end” help the reader follow the process. However, some links are mechanical or unclear, and the reference in “when the clouds goes down” disrupts the sequence because the diagram shows dry air continuing over the mountain. “As we can” is also an awkward lead-in, while “Meanwhile” does not clearly express the relationship between rising air, cooling, and cloud formation. Use more precise references and connect each stage through cause and effect, so cohesion supports rather than obscures the process.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “approaching,” “rises,” “cloud formation,” “rainfall,” and “inland,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There is also some useful variation in describing the stages. However, several word-choice and spelling problems reduce precision: “shadow desert” omits “rain,” “fry air” appears to mean “dry air,” and “the approaching of humid air” is an unnatural construction. “Clouds” are also incorrectly used for the air descending, which is a vocabulary and meaning issue. Aim for accurate collocations such as “moist air rises,” “the air cools,” and “dry air descends on the leeward side.” Check spelling and use the diagram’s key terms consistently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the overview’s sequence of stages and the clause beginning “As the air descends.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “the process of by which” contains an unnecessary preposition, and “formation … involves series of stages” needs an article. There are also agreement and verb-form problems in “it get cold,” “clouds goes down,” and “it results in formation.” The sentence beginning “Meanwhile, the moist air rises up” is not joined grammatically to the following clause. Review subject–verb agreement, articles, and clause boundaries, while keeping the useful range of sentence structures you are attempting.

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