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 figure illustrates how a specific type of desert, recognised as a rain-shadow desert, is formed.

Overall, the formation of the rain-shadow desert includes seven stages. It starts from the approach of winds to the coast and ends with the arrival of dry winds into inland areas.

Initially, the winds approach to the coast from the sea. Then, winds push upwards through mountains. Subsequently, the moist air rises and cools the winds. After the cooling of winds the clouds form just above the windward side.

At the fifth stage, Rain falls into the mountains. Afterwards, at sixth stage dry air continues to flow over mountain. Just below the leeward side of mountain, at seventh stage dry winds reach the inland areas, consequently the rain-shadow desert forms in an inland area.

The distance between the location of first stage "the coast" and the place of last stage "the inland" is thousands of kilometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response gives a clear account of the process, identifies its beginning and end, and includes the key sequence from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland areas. The overview that there are seven stages is relevant, and the final reference to the thousands-of-kilometres scale reflects the diagram. However, some stages are not described precisely: “winds push upwards through mountains” does not clearly explain that the air is forced up the windward slope, and the account says the moist air cools “the winds” rather than explaining that the rising air cools. The location of the rain-shadow desert is also described as “just below” the leeward side, which is less accurate than saying it lies inland beyond the mountains. More precise coverage of these features would strengthen the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information is arranged in a clear sequence, with an opening, an overview, and a chronological description of the stages. Sequencing expressions such as “Initially,” “Subsequently,” “At the fifth stage,” and “Afterwards” help the reader follow the process, and the final sentence adds the diagram’s scale. This organisation is coherent overall. However, the repeated stage-by-stage transitions can feel mechanical, and some links between ideas are not fully clear. For example, “After the cooling of winds the clouds form” does not connect the cooling of rising moist air to cloud formation precisely, while “consequently the rain-shadow desert forms” makes the final relationship sound more immediate than the diagram shows. Varying the linking and clarifying cause-and-effect relationships would improve flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The response uses an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “formation,” “approach,” “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” and “inland areas.” These terms are relevant and generally allow the reader to understand the stages. There are, however, some inaccurate or awkward choices and collocations. “Winds approach to the coast” would be more natural as “winds approach the coast,” while “winds push upwards through mountains” is imprecise for air being forced up a slope. “Rain falls into the mountains” is also an unsuitable description of precipitation, and “the inland” is not a natural way to refer to the inland area. Aim for precise process verbs and natural geographical phrasing, while retaining the useful technical terms already used.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

There is a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including the overview sentence with “It starts … and ends …” and the final sentence describing distance. Most of the sequence remains understandable, but some grammatical errors and awkward constructions persist. Examples include “winds approach to the coast,” “winds push upwards,” and “at sixth stage,” where the preposition, verb form, or article is not well controlled. In “After the cooling of winds the clouds form,” punctuation is also needed after the introductory phrase, and the relationship between the clauses could be expressed more clearly. The sentence “At the fifth stage, Rain falls” also has an unnecessary capital letter after the comma. Check articles and prepositions in process descriptions, and proofread sentence boundaries and capitalization.

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