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 below illustrates how rain shadow desert is formed from one type of desert. Overall, its a 7 stages process, the wind approaches the coast above the sea and then travel thousands of kilometers on top of mountains from windward side to leewardside. The wind goes through constant changes on the way and turns to dry air which reaches the inlands thus forms rain shadow desert. The wind blowing above sea approches the coast, which is pushed upwards by the mountains. On the windward side of mountains wind rises the moist air and cools it down, turning into clouds and resulting in rainfall. In step six the air blows and travel thousands of kilometers on top of the mountains, reaching the leeward side. The air from the rainfall turning into dry air as it passes through the leeward side. In the last stage it reaches the inland and forms the rain shadow desert

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the process as a sequence and cover its main stages: moist air rises and cools, clouds form, rain falls on the windward side, and drier air continues inland to create the desert. The overview also captures the overall transformation from coastal winds to dry inland conditions. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the wind does not travel “on top of mountains” for thousands of kilometres; the diagram’s distance label indicates the horizontal scale, not a stage of travel. The explanation that air “from the rainfall” becomes dry also misrepresents the process: air loses moisture as rain falls, then continues over the mountain. Clarifying these points and describing the windward/leeward contrast more precisely would make the account more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable overall progression, moving from an overview to the windward-side stages and then to the leeward side and inland desert. This makes the sequence broadly understandable. However, the paragraphing is not clearly presented, and the transitions rely heavily on repeated references to “the wind” and “the air.” The overview also combines several stages in a long sentence, while “In step six” introduces a detail without smoothly linking it to the preceding explanation. Use distinct paragraphs for the overview and the process, and connect stages with precise sequencing language such as “As a result,” “After precipitation,” and “Finally.” Clearer referencing would also help readers follow which air mass is being described.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” “clouds,” and “rainfall,” which gives the description an adequate range for the task. Some choices, however, are imprecise or awkward: “rain shadow desert is formed from one type of desert” is unclear, “the wind goes through constant changes” is vague, and “the air from the rainfall” does not express the intended relationship accurately. There are also spelling and form errors, such as “approches,” “leewardside,” and “inlands.” Aim for more exact process language and check compound terms and spelling. For example, describe air as “losing moisture” rather than becoming dry “from the rainfall.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex structures, including the relative clause in “which is pushed upwards by the mountains” and the sequence “as it passes through the leeward side.” The main stages remain understandable, but some grammatical errors affect clarity. In “its a 7 stages process,” the possessive form and singular/plural construction are incorrect; “the wind approaches … and then travel” also has subject–verb disagreement. The sentence beginning “The wind blowing above sea” lacks a finite verb, and “The air from the rainfall turning into dry air” is an incomplete clause. Review articles, agreement, and complete sentence structure, and use punctuation to separate the stages more clearly.

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