Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-11

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 diagram elucidates the various stages involved in the process of rain-shadow desert, from the initial winds approach coast to the final dry wind reach inland areas.

Overall, it is immediately apparent that the process is a bell sequence comprising seven main stages. It begins with the winds approach coast and culminates in the dry wind reach inland areas. Aditionally, the mountains is depcted with coast windward side and leeward side, the mountain spreads about thousands of kilometers and upper part coverd with snow.

In the initial stage of the process, wind approach coast. Following this, the wind is then upward pushed. Subsequently, moist air rises and cools, which leads to formation of clouds in the forth step.

Turning to the remaining steps, the process continues when rain falls. After being dry air continues over mountain. Finally, the entire operation concludes when dry winds reach inland areas to form rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram as a seven-stage process and give a clear overall sequence, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland areas. The account also includes the key causal stages: air rises and cools, clouds form, rain falls, and dry air crosses the mountain. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the diagram does not show snow, and it labels the horizontal distance as thousands of kilometres rather than saying the mountain itself spreads that far. The final link between dry winds and the formation of the rain-shadow desert is relevant, but the role of the windward and leeward sides is only briefly mentioned. More precise coverage of these geographical relationships would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs that move through the earlier and later stages. Sequencing expressions such as “Following this,” “Subsequently,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the process, and the progression is generally logical. This already provides a coherent structure, though some linking is mechanical and a few references are awkward. For example, “After being dry air continues over mountain” does not clearly connect the rainfall stage to the next one, while “the entire operation” is an imprecise reference to the process. Use direct transitions that show cause and sequence, and ensure each sentence clearly identifies the air or stage being discussed.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “stages,” “culminates,” “moist air,” “formation of clouds,” and “rain-shadow desert.” These choices communicate the main subject, and attempts such as “elucidates” and “culminates” show some ambition. However, several word forms and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural: “bell sequence” does not describe a process, “the wind is then upward pushed” is awkward, and “the mountain spreads about thousands of kilometers” misuses “spreads.” There are also spelling errors, including “Aditionally,” “depcted,” and “coverd.” Prefer precise, conventional process language and check spelling; this will make the description clearer without requiring more elaborate vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms. For instance, “Subsequently, moist air rises and cools, which leads to formation of clouds” combines stages in a complex sentence, while the overview uses a longer sentence to describe the sequence. Some grammatical errors remain, but the main meaning is generally recoverable. Problems include subject–verb agreement in “the mountains is depcted,” missing or incorrect articles in “leads to formation of clouds” and “over mountain,” and faulty verb patterns in “the wind is then upward pushed” and “After being dry air continues.” The opening phrase “winds approach coast” also needs a more complete grammatical construction. Practise accurate articles, agreement, and clause structure while retaining your attempts at complex sentences.

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