Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-14

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 formation of one type desert khnown as rain-shadow desert.

The rain-shadow deserts are found ate areas that consist mountians at their edges, separating the sea on the other side. These mountains can range upto thousands of kilometres spread on land. When winds from sea approach the mountainous coast, they are pushed upwards as they hit mountains. The moisture in air increases as winds are pushed above and they form clouds when they reach windward side. Those cloud float higher and get heavy which results the rain falls at the top of mountains on the sea facing side. The dry air then continues over the mountains, blowing downwards from leeward side, reaches the inland flat areas. Thus these inland areas are composed into rain-shadow desert. This is the only one type of desert and only appears where such a topology is formed, speparation of sea and land by long range of mountains.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main process from sea winds approaching the mountains through rainfall on the windward side to dry air reaching inland, and the sequence is broadly consistent with the diagram. The description of clouds forming and rain falling above the sea-facing slope is relevant, as is the final link to the rain-shadow desert. However, there is no distinct overview that clearly summarises the key contrast between the wet windward side and the dry leeward side. Some details are also unclear or inaccurate: “the moisture in air increases” suggests moisture is added, whereas the diagram shows moist air rising and cooling, and “mountains can range upto thousands of kilometres” misreads the scale arrow, which indicates horizontal distance. The claim that this is “the only one type of desert” is unsupported. A concise overview and closer attention to the labels would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The information follows a generally logical sequence, using transitions such as “When,” “then,” and “Thus” to guide the reader from the coast to the inland desert. This makes the process understandable overall. However, the response is presented as one continuous paragraph, and the opening does not provide a clear overview before the stage-by-stage account. Some connections are awkward or unclear, particularly “These mountains can range upto thousands of kilometres spread on land,” which interrupts the process description, and “Thus these inland areas are composed into rain-shadow desert,” where the relationship is difficult to follow. Organise the response into a brief overview followed by a clearly ordered explanation, and use references such as “this dry air” or “the leeward side” consistently to make links more precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “approach,” “pushed upwards,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” and “inland,” which helps communicate the diagram’s stages. There are also attempts at more specific language, such as “mountainous coast” and “rain-shadow desert.” However, several spelling errors—“khnown,” “mountians,” “upto,” and “speparation”—and inaccurate or unnatural choices reduce precision. For example, “the moisture in air increases” does not accurately express the movement of moist air, while “composed into” is not a natural way to describe the formation of a desert. “Topology” is also not the appropriate term for the landform arrangement here. Use accurate process collocations and check spelling to make the vocabulary more controlled.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes a mix of simple and complex forms, including a time clause (“When winds from sea approach…”) and a result clause (“which results the rain falls…”). The sequence remains mostly understandable, but some grammatical errors affect clarity. Articles and plural forms are missing or inconsistent in phrases such as “one type desert,” “from sea,” and “Those cloud float.” The clause “which results the rain falls” is not correctly formed; use a structure such as “which results in rainfall.” There are also awkward sentence constructions in “reaches the inland flat areas” and “these inland areas are composed into rain-shadow desert.” Aim for more accurate clause patterns and article use while retaining the complex sentences you have attempted.

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