Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-12

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 figure illustrates the process by which rain-shadow deserts are formed.The data is measured in thousands of kilometers.

overall, it is natural process consisting of seven satages, beginning with winds approaching the coast from the sea and ending with the formation of a rain-shadow desert in land. The process envolves moist air rising over mountains, leading to rainfall on the windward side and dry condition on the leeward side.

initially, winds approch the coast from the sea and are pushed upwards by the mountains. As the moist air rises, it cools, which caues clouds to form. Subsequently, rain falls on the windward side of the mountains.

After that, dry air continues over the mountain to the leeward side. Finally, these dry winds reach inland areas, resulting in the formation of a rain- shadow desert thousands of kilometres away from the coast.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram as a process and give a clear overview of its seven stages, from winds approaching the coast to a rain-shadow desert forming inland. The main causal sequence is also accurately reported: moist air rises and cools, clouds form, rain falls on the windward side, and dry air continues over the mountain. Some details are less fully developed: the diagram’s thousands-of-kilometres scale is mentioned, but its significance is not explained, and the final link between dry winds and desert formation could be clearer. The response is also 9 words below the required minimum, so it has less space to develop the process. Add a little detail about the mountain’s role and the inland location to complete the summary more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by the stages in sequence, with “initially,” “subsequently,” “after that” and “finally” guiding the reader. This clear progression is a strength and makes the process easy to follow. The paragraphing is appropriate, although the first two sentences would benefit from clearer separation and consistent capitalisation. Some linking is a little mechanical because the stages are mainly connected through time markers. To strengthen cohesion further, vary these links and show cause and effect more explicitly—for example, connect the cooling of rising air directly to cloud formation, and rainfall to the air becoming dry as it crosses the mountain.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” and “rain-shadow desert,” which helps convey the diagram’s key features. There is also some useful variation in phrases such as “are pushed upwards” and “continues over the mountain.” However, spelling errors are noticeable, including “satages,” “envolves,” “approch” and “caues,” and they reduce the accuracy of the vocabulary. Some expressions are also imprecise or awkward: “the data is measured” is not suitable for a process diagram, while “dry condition” and “in land” are not natural forms. Use accurate process language and check spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including the relative clause in “the process by which rain-shadow deserts are formed” and the time clause “As the moist air rises, it cools.” Most relationships between stages remain understandable. Some grammatical errors persist, however. The overview needs an article in “it is natural process,” and “dry condition” requires a plural or a different construction. The opening also runs two sentences together after “formed,” and “overall” should begin with a capital letter. These errors do not generally prevent understanding, but more consistent control of articles, number, sentence boundaries and punctuation would make the description more accurate.

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