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 pictorial representation illustrates the making of rain shadow deserts with the help of mountains.

Overall, it is clearly seen that there are several stages performed to make the rain shadow deserts. The few steps are wind, cloud formation and rain.

Firstly, the winds approach the coast over the sea, and they push upwards to the windward side of the mountains. Thereafter, the sir is slightly wet, and it increases and gradually cools. Subsequently, the clouds are formed towards the higher altitudes of the mountain.

Secondly, once the cloud is formed at the top, the heavy rain starts to fall at the peak of the mountains, and during this, the dry air continues to pass through to the leeward side of the mountains. The last step is dry winds reaching the inland areas and making the rain shadow deserts. Last but not least, the rain shadow deserts are formed thousands of kilometres away from coast areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland, and you identify the key contrast between the rainy windward side and the inland rain-shadow desert. The overview, however, is too general: “The few steps are wind, cloud formation and rain” does not capture the central process of moist air rising and losing moisture before dry air crosses the mountains. Some details are also unclear or imprecise, such as saying rain falls “at the peak” rather than on the windward side, and describing the air as “slightly wet.” The final reference to thousands of kilometres is relevant, but could be integrated more clearly with the diagram’s scale. A more complete overview and precise stage descriptions would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the stages in sequence. Linking expressions such as “Firstly,” “Thereafter,” “Subsequently,” and “Secondly” help the reader follow the process, and the progression from coast to inland is generally logical. This meets the lower-band expectations and shows some features of stronger organisation. However, the sequence markers become somewhat mechanical, particularly “Last but not least,” which is not a natural way to introduce the final stage of a process. The overview also lists only selected stages rather than summarising the process as a whole. Use fewer, more purposeful transitions and connect the stages through cause and effect to make progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “clouds,” “dry air,” and “inland areas,” so the main subject is understandable. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “pictorial representation” and “subsequently.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “making” is less suitable than “formation,” “the air is slightly wet” is imprecise, and “the rain shadow deserts are formed” repeats the same wording. “The sir” appears to be a spelling error for “air.” These issues show that the vocabulary is adequate for the task but not consistently precise. Prefer standard process collocations and use the diagram’s terms accurately, such as “moist air rises and cools” and “precipitation falls.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mixture of simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses linked with “once” and “while,” and most of the process remains understandable. The present tense is generally appropriate for describing a diagram. Some grammatical errors and awkward constructions remain, however. In “the winds approach … and they push upwards,” the subject is unclear because the winds are pushed upward by the mountains; “the air … increases and gradually cools” also lacks a clear grammatical meaning. The phrase “during this, the dry air continues to pass through” is awkwardly structured, and “rain shadow deserts” would be clearer with consistent compound-noun punctuation. Aim for more controlled passive forms, such as “the air is forced upwards,” and check that each clause has a clear subject and action.

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

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