Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 illustrates how one type of desert came in existence, which is called rain-shadow desert.

Overall, there is process in which wind reaches the harbour, further moving up it starts to cool, then a cloud is formed. After that, when rain falls, it helps to create a desert by moving the dry air over the mountain. Eventually, when the dry wind reaches inland, it helps in the formation of rain-shadow desert.

First of all, when a wind approaches on the coast, it goes up in the direction of windward side. When it travels a distance, the moist air which increases and then it cooles. As a result, clouds then formed, which help in raining.

Consequently, dry air travels over mountain towards leeward side. Finally, dry air reach on inland areas, which shows that a rain-shadow desert is created. Overall, this process covers 1000 kms or more, then the desert is formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram as a process and cover its main sequence: coastal winds rise, moisture cools and forms clouds, rain falls, and drier air moves inland to create a rain-shadow desert. The overview also conveys the broad cause-and-effect relationship. However, some details are less fully or accurately reported. The diagram shows winds approaching from the sea and being forced up the windward side; “harbour” is not shown. The description of the moist air “which increases” is unclear, and the role of rainfall in the process could be explained more precisely. The final reference to “1000 kms or more” also does not match the diagram’s label of thousands of kilometres. More precise coverage of these features would strengthen the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by the early stages and then the movement of dry air inland. Sequencing expressions such as “First of all,” “As a result,” “Consequently,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the process. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical, with several transitions announcing the next stage rather than showing the relationship between stages. The overview also repeats information that appears again in the body, and “Overall” is used a second time at the end. Some references are unclear, particularly “it” in “further moving up it starts to cool.” Grouping the stages into more connected sentences and using clearer references would improve flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “approaches,” “windward side,” “moist air,” “leeward side,” and “inland areas,” which makes the topic recognisable. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “As a result” and “Consequently.” Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise, however: “came in existence” is unnatural, “harbour” does not describe the labelled coastal setting, and “helps in raining” is not an appropriate way to describe precipitation. “A wind” and “a cloud” also sound less natural when describing the general process. Choose standard geographical terms and precise process verbs, such as “is formed,” “is forced upwards,” and “precipitation occurs,” to make the account more fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “when,” “which,” and “as a result,” and the sequence is generally understandable. Some grammatical errors remain. For example, “when a wind approaches on the coast” has an incorrect preposition, “it cooles” has an incorrect verb form, and “dry air reach on inland areas” has subject–verb agreement and preposition problems. The sentence beginning “Overall, there is process” also needs an article, while “when rain falls, it helps to create a desert by moving the dry air” has an unclear grammatical relationship between the clauses. Review articles, agreement, verb forms, and sentence construction, while retaining your attempts at complex structures.

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