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 given diagram illustrates the process of formation of one category of desert, known as Rain-shadow desert.

At a glance, it is abundantly clear that the creation of wind starts from winds flowing from sea towars the coast. When they reached the mountains, they get pushed in upwards direction. As soon as they are rising high in the atmosphere, they are cooling and forming clouds.

Probing further, it can be seen that when the clouds reached at the tip of the mountain, it started raining. However, the dry air continues flowing towards the leeward side. Eventually, it reached at the inland areas, which results in the formation of Rain- shadow desert.

Hence, it is vivid that the winds initially flowed towards the coast and formed clouds when reached at windward side. While, some dry air reached towards inland areas,which formed the Rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main sequence: winds move from the sea towards the coast, rise over the mountains, produce clouds and rain, and then continue as dry air towards the inland desert. This gives the reader the basic process, but several stages are compressed or imprecisely described. For example, the diagram shows moist air rising and cooling before clouds form, and rain falling on the windward side; these details could be stated more clearly. The overview also repeats the sequence rather than highlighting the key contrast between rainfall on the windward side and dry conditions beyond the leeward side. The response is 143 words, below the required minimum of 150, and this limits the detail available to report the process fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction followed by two process paragraphs and a concluding summary. The stages are generally presented in the correct order, and transitions such as “However” and “Eventually” help signal movement through the process. However, the final paragraph largely repeats information already given, so it does not add a distinct overview. Some linking is also mechanical, particularly “At a glance,” “Probing further,” and “Hence.” References such as “they” and “it” are not always clear: in “when the clouds reached at the tip … it started raining,” the pronoun’s reference is uncertain. A more direct, step-by-step account with a concise overview would make the progression clearer.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of process vocabulary, including “formation,” “atmosphere,” “leeward side,” and “inland areas,” and the main meaning remains understandable. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “Probing further” and “it is vivid,” but these expressions are unnatural in this context and do not improve precision. Some word choices are inaccurate or repetitive: “creation of wind” does not describe the diagram, which shows existing winds moving, and “flowing” is repeated where more precise process verbs could be used. Spelling and spacing issues include “towars” and “Rain- shadow.” Use the diagram’s labels consistently and choose straightforward, accurate terms for each stage.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including time clauses such as “As soon as they are rising high in the atmosphere” and a contrast introduced by “However.” The overall sequence is still understandable, but some errors in tense, agreement, and sentence construction reduce accuracy. For example, “When they reached the mountains, they get pushed” shifts from past to present, while “the clouds … it started raining” has unclear agreement and reference. The phrase “when reached at windward side” is missing a clear subject and has an awkward clause structure. Aim to use a consistent present tense for describing a diagram, and check that each clause has an explicit subject and correctly formed verb.

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

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