Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-09

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 provided image illustrates how one kind of desert called rain-shadow desert come to life.

There is a considerable distance of thousands of kilometres between sea coast to the actual formation of rain shadow desert. A number of noticeable and complex processes take place that lead to its formation. The whole formulation was observed to happen in a flow while mountains situated at the middle.

Winds rising from the sea reach coast and moved in upward direction beacause it is cool. Hence, clouds form that lead to the rainfalls just above the mountains. Here at the top corner of mountains, dry air continues to rise which ultimately falls to inland areas. These processes contributes to the existence of the desert under discussion.

The sides like Windward and Leeward are mentioned on both sides of mountains. Windward side is responsible for raising the wind upwards that ultimately causes rainfall. However, Leeward side is apparently responsible for dry winds reaching the inland areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram as showing the formation of a rain-shadow desert and include several key stages: winds arrive from the sea, rise near the mountains, clouds form, rain falls, and dry winds continue inland. You also mention the windward and leeward sides and the scale of thousands of kilometres. However, some stages are unclear or inaccurately described. In particular, the air rises and cools before clouds form, while your account says the winds rise “because it is cool”; the dry air then continues over the mountain rather than rising and ultimately falling. The overview is also vague (“a number of noticeable and complex processes”) instead of summarising the main cause-and-effect pattern. Clarifying these stages and their sequence would make the account more complete and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, a description of the process, and a final comparison of the two mountain sides. The sequence from coastal winds to inland desert is generally understandable, and linking expressions such as “Hence” and “However” help connect ideas. At times, though, the progression is weakened by unclear references and connections. “Here at the top corner” is imprecise, and “These processes” does not clearly identify which stages are being summarised. The final paragraph repeats information about windward uplift and rainfall rather than advancing the explanation. Organising the stages in one clear chronological paragraph and using precise references to the air and mountain sides would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of topic-related vocabulary, including “rain-shadow desert,” “Windward,” “Leeward,” “inland areas,” and “formation.” There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “considerable distance” and “ultimately.” However, some choices are unnatural or imprecise for describing a scientific process: “come to life,” “whole formulation,” and “top corner of mountains” do not communicate the stages clearly. “Dry air continues to rise” also gives the wrong impression of the diagram’s movement. There are spelling and word-form slips, including “beacause” and “rainfalls.” Prefer standard process language such as “is formed,” “the air rises,” and “precipitation falls,” and use the diagram’s labels accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “a desert called rain-shadow desert” and a cause-and-effect construction beginning “Hence.” The main meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “rain-shadow desert come to life” has a subject–verb agreement problem, and “Winds … reach coast and moved” shifts tense within the same sentence. Articles are missing in phrases such as “reach coast” and “between sea coast,” while “These processes contributes” has incorrect agreement. The sentence beginning “Here at the top corner” also has an unclear grammatical relationship between its clauses. Check agreement, articles, and consistent present-tense forms when describing a diagram; these corrections would make your varied sentence structures more controlled.

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