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)

Rain-shadow desert formation is one of the oldest method taught by the teachers to their students in their early school days. The series of event that takes place in order to form a rain-shadow desert are as follows :

a) First, the wind approaches the coast and then due to the inclination nature of the mountain, the wind travels upward taking all the moist air with it.

b) The wind when reaches a certain altitude starts to cool down in form of rain particles and the remaining dry air passes through the tall mountain, all the way down to the inland areas which at last forms the rain-shadow desert.

The rain-shadow desert is always found at a location where there is a tall mountain and the other side of the tall mountain resides a massive sea.

The side where moist air rises to a certain height and then cools down in the form of rain droplets is also known as windward side and the side where only dry air is felt is called the leeward side.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main sequence from coastal winds to inland dry air and correctly use the terms “windward side” and “leeward side.” However, the process is only partly reported: the diagram explicitly shows clouds forming before rain falls, while “cools down in form of rain particles” blurs cooling, cloud formation and precipitation. The overview is also limited; a clearer summary would state that moist air rises and rains on the windward side, leaving dry air to descend or continue inland and create the desert on the leeward side. The final claim that a desert is “always” found beside a massive sea and tall mountain overgeneralises beyond this diagram. Develop the stages more precisely and avoid adding unsupported generalisations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a generally understandable order: it begins with the approaching wind, explains the mountain’s role, and then distinguishes the two sides. The lettered steps and phrases such as “First” and “then” help signal sequence. However, the process is compressed into two steps, so the transition from rising moist air to clouds and rainfall is not clearly separated from the movement of dry air inland. The final two paragraphs also shift from describing this particular diagram to making a general statement and defining the sides, which weakens the progression. Organise the response into a brief overview followed by a fuller chronological account, using clear links such as “as a result” and “on the leeward side” without relying on a list alone.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “moist air,” “rain-shadow desert,” “windward side” and “leeward side,” which makes the subject clear. There is also some attempt at more descriptive language, such as “passes through” and “inland areas.” However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural for a process description: “inclination nature of the mountain,” “cool down in form of rain particles,” and “only dry air is felt.” “Massive sea” is also not an accurate or useful description of the diagram’s label, “Sea.” Aim for standard process collocations such as air being forced upwards, cooling, forming clouds, and producing rainfall. This would make the account more precise while retaining the adequate range already shown.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including the clause beginning “when reaches a certain altitude” and the relative clause “where moist air rises.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but some errors in agreement, articles and sentence construction reduce accuracy. For example, “one of the oldest method” needs a plural noun, and “The series of event” also requires a plural form. In “The wind when reaches,” the subject is missing after “when”; write “When the wind reaches…” The long sentence beginning “The wind approaches…” also joins several stages in a way that makes the sequence difficult to follow. Use shorter, controlled sentences for each stage, while checking articles and subject–verb agreement.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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