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 diagram below demonstrates that how rain-shadow desert is formed. The formation of this specific desert is a pure natural process driven by winds, clouds and rain. This natural phenomenon takes the major help of mountains.

Overall, what stands out from the diagram is that the wind travels thousands of kilometers untill reaching the inland surface of rain-shadow desert. Mountains are playing active and important role in this whole process. The process starts when the air coming from the sea approaches coast, travelling all upwards to the mountains which then makes the wind cool and form clouds. After the rain, the dry air continues to travel downwards over mountain and finally reaching the shadow desert.

Looking at the details, The whole process conatins around seven stages. Wind starts the travel phase from the sea and reaches the coast. The natural behaviour then pushes the coming air upwards to the mountains which help to form clouds. The other stage invloves raining. Then the dry air after the rain passes through the leeward area of the mountain untill finally reaching the inland areas also known as rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence and give an overview that identifies the mountains’ role and the movement from the sea towards the inland desert. The seven-stage description is broadly consistent with the diagram, including cloud formation, rainfall and dry air crossing the mountain. However, some stages are compressed or imprecise: the diagram specifically shows moist air rising and cooling before clouds form, while your account says the mountains “make the wind cool and form clouds.” The final stage—dry winds reaching inland areas—is mentioned, but the rain-shadow effect itself could be explained more clearly. To develop the report further, distinguish the windward and leeward sides and describe how rain on the former leaves dry air on the latter.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview and a paragraph describing the stages. The sequence is generally easy to follow, with transitions such as “Overall,” “Looking at the details,” and “Then.” This supports a coherent account of the process. However, some linking is mechanical or repetitive, particularly the repeated use of “then” and “finally,” and the overview repeats several details that appear again in the final paragraph. The relationship between stages is also occasionally unclear in the long sentence beginning “The natural behaviour then pushes…” Consider grouping the stages more efficiently and using precise references such as “this rising moist air” to make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “approaches,” “upwards,” “leeward,” “inland” and “rain-shadow desert,” so the reader can understand the main events. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “natural phenomenon” and “active and important role.” However, some choices are vague or unnatural for describing a scientific diagram: “takes the major help of mountains” and “inland surface” do not express the relationships precisely. Spelling errors such as “untill,” “conatins” and “invloves” also reduce accuracy. Aim for concise, conventional collocations—for example, say that mountains force moist air upwards and that dry air descends on the leeward side.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses linked with “when” and “which,” and most of the process remains understandable. Some grammatical errors nevertheless recur. The opening phrase “demonstrates that how” uses an unnecessary “that,” while “Mountains are playing active and important role” has an awkward tense and is missing an article. In “the dry air continues to travel downwards … and finally reaching,” the verb forms are not parallel. Capitalisation after “Looking at the details,” is also inconsistent. To improve control, check articles and subject–verb patterns, and keep coordinated verbs in the same form, such as “continues … and finally reaches.”

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