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 demonstrates the process of formation of a type of desert named as a rain shadow desert.

According to the process diagram, the rain shadow desert is generally formed behind the irregular shaped, huge triangular mountains. The mountains are enormous in size ranging from sea coast to desert .The deserts are formed due to the combination of sea water and wind.

To begin with, the wind combined with the moisture of sea water moves in a direction perpendicular to the axis of mountain. Due to the steep uphill denoted as windward side, causes the moist air to rise up and cool. This reduction in the temperature of the air, leads to formation of the clouds.

This cloud formation indirectly cause rain leading to a downpour. As a result of rain, the dry air moves over the downhill depicted as leeward side. The dry air passes through the mountain, creating the inland areas also called as the rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response covers the main sequence: moist air approaches from the sea, rises and cools on the windward side, clouds form and rain falls, then dry air crosses the mountains towards the inland desert. This gives the reader a relevant account of the process. However, some details are unclear or not supported by the diagram. For example, saying the desert forms “behind the irregular shaped, huge triangular mountains” adds a shape not shown, and “the mountains are enormous in size ranging from sea coast to desert” overstates their extent. The overview could also state more clearly that the mountains create a wet windward side and a dry leeward region. Some stages are explained more fully than others, so the key features are addressed but not consistently precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is arranged in a clear sequence, moving from an introduction and general description to the stages of air rising, rainfall and dry air reaching inland. Paragraphing helps separate these parts, and transitions such as “To begin with” and “As a result” support progression. This is a coherent overall account. Some links, however, are mechanical or imprecise: “This cloud formation indirectly cause rain” does not clearly express the relationship, while “The dry air passes through the mountain” is difficult to reconcile with the earlier description of air moving over it. The opening also repeats the idea of the desert’s formation without establishing a concise overview. More precise referencing and smoother links between cause and effect would make the progression more consistently clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

There is adequate vocabulary for describing the process, including “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” “formation,” and “downpour.” These terms show an attempt to use topic-specific language, and the meaning is generally understandable. Some choices are inaccurate or awkward, however: “wind combined with the moisture of sea water” suggests the wind combines with water rather than carrying moist air, and “downhill” is less precise than describing the leeward slope. “Irregular shaped” and “axis of mountain” are also not natural descriptions in this context. Aim for accurate collocations and avoid adding descriptive terms that the diagram does not support. For instance, describe air as “moisture-laden” and say it “crosses the mountain range” before reaching inland areas.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and more complex structures, including cause-and-effect clauses such as “Due to the steep uphill … causes the moist air to rise up and cool” and “As a result of rain, the dry air moves…”. The stages remain understandable, but some grammatical errors occur. In the first example, the introductory “Due to” phrase is not connected correctly to the main clause; write, for example, “Because the windward side rises steeply, moist air is forced upwards and cools.” There are also agreement and article problems in “This cloud formation indirectly cause rain” and “the rain shadow desert,” as well as punctuation spacing around “desert .” Greater control of clause structure, subject–verb agreement and articles would improve accuracy while retaining the range of sentence forms.

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