Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-13

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 illustrades how a rain-shadow desert is formed as a result of the movement of moist air over a mountain range.

Overall, the process involves several stages, beginning with moist winds blowing inland from the sea and ending with dry air reaching the inland region, where a rain-shadow desert develops. The mountain plays a crucial role in thiis process by causing rainfall on one side and dry conditions on the other.

Initially, moist winds approach coast through the sea level surface and goes upwards as they encounter a mountain. As the air rises, it expands and become cool. It creates clouds form and it gets torresial rain as the clouds get peak of a mountain.

As the loosing much of its moisture through rainfall, the air continues over the mountain peak and begins to descend on the opposite side. During descends the air become dry and warmer occuring in the leeward side.

Finally, this dry winds travel towards the inland areas, creating an arid environment known as rain-shadow desert. Thus, the formation of rain-shadow deserts is possible by two sides of mountain.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response covers the main stages and gives a clear overview: moist air approaches from the sea, rises over the mountains, loses moisture as rain, and continues inland as dry air. The contrast between the windward and leeward sides is also identified, so the account addresses the central process. Some details are less fully or precisely reported, however. For example, “goes upwards as they encounter a mountain” and “it gets torrential rain” describe the sequence imprecisely, while the diagram specifically shows clouds forming and rain falling over the windward side. The final explanation that the desert forms “by two sides of mountain” is unclear. More exact reporting of the stages and their locations would make the account more complete and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a coherent overall arrangement, with an overview followed by stages in sequence and a concluding statement. Paragraphing helps distinguish the initial ascent, the passage over the mountain, and the inland outcome. Sequencing expressions such as “Initially,” “As,” and “Finally” guide the reader through the process. However, some links are awkward or unclear, particularly “It creates clouds form” and “As the loosing much of its moisture,” which interrupt the progression. The final sentence repeats the general idea without clarifying the relationship between the mountain’s two sides and desert formation. Clearer sentence connections and more precise referencing would make the progression smoother and less dependent on basic sequencing markers.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses relevant process vocabulary, including “moist winds,” “rainfall,” “leeward side,” “inland areas,” and “arid environment.” These terms show an attempt to describe the diagram specifically. However, inaccurate word forms, spelling, and collocations are noticeable and sometimes make the description less clear: “illustrades,” “thiis,” “torresial,” “loosing,” and “during descends” are examples. Phrases such as “clouds get peak of a mountain” and “through the sea level surface” are also unnatural. Aim for accurate, conventional process language and check spelling and word forms carefully; this would allow the relevant vocabulary you already use to communicate the stages more precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

There is some variety in sentence structure, including a relative clause in “where a rain-shadow desert develops” and a time clause beginning “As the air rises.” The overall meaning is generally recoverable, but errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction occur across the response. For example, “winds … goes upwards” has a subject–verb agreement problem, while “the air … become cool” and “this dry winds” show errors in verb form and number. The construction “It creates clouds form” is also grammatically incomplete, and “During descends” does not form a correct clause. More consistent control of basic sentence patterns, alongside the complex forms attempted, would improve accuracy and readability.

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

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