Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-18

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)

A glance at the given diagram illustrates the procedure of the formation of rain shadow desert and features,

overall the process contains of 7 crucial phases, where in the beginning the wind approach to the coast and then process gets started with the flow of wind over the thousands of kilometer wide mountain ranges and ends with the rain shadow desert,but here in between the wind passes through several significant stages which depicts the relevant and stepwise formation process.

Initially in the first phase, the winds from the sea approaches to the coast of mountains where due to inclined angle of mountain the wind pushed upwards towards the specific point which is known as windward side and at this particular point the temperature is very low so significantly when the wind passes through this point the moisture gets mixed with winds and then went through the windward side the winds edge up where generally clouds form almost at the peak of mountains.

Once the cloud formation gets completed then in the next phase due to cold temperature and high moist in cloud cause the rain over the peak point of mountains which leads to remove the excess moist from air which form dry air and move towards the decline direction.

In the final phase the dry air passed through the point in opposite direction of windward side which is known as lee ward side and finally to conclude this process the dry winds reached in land areas where rain shadow desert get formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main sequence and give an overall account, noting that the process has seven phases and ends with dry winds reaching inland areas where the desert forms. The description of rising air, cloud formation, rainfall, and the transition to dry air is relevant and mostly follows the diagram. This meets the task well, though some details are unclear or not fully accurate: the diagram shows moist air rising and cooling before clouds form, whereas your account suggests moisture “gets mixed with winds” at the windward side. The mountain range is also not described as thousands of kilometres wide; that label indicates the horizontal scale. To strengthen the response, report the stages more precisely and distinguish the windward and leeward sides clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a recognisable progression from an introduction through the early stages to the final inland outcome. Paragraphing broadly separates the overview and stages, and sequencing expressions such as “Initially,” “Once,” and “In the final phase” help the reader follow the process. However, some linking is mechanical or unclear, particularly the long opening sentence and the repeated use of “phase” and “point.” Several ideas are packed into lengthy sentences, making the order of events harder to track—for example, the sentence beginning “Initially in the first phase” combines wind movement, temperature, moisture, and cloud formation. Use shorter stage-focused sentences and clearer references to air, clouds, and mountain sides to make progression more controlled.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of process vocabulary, including “formation,” “windward side,” “cloud formation,” “excess moisture,” and “dry air,” which helps communicate the diagram’s subject. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “significant stages.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for this process: “the flow of wind over the thousands of kilometer wide mountain ranges” misrepresents the scale label, “decline direction” is not an appropriate description of the air’s movement, and “high moist” is an incorrect form. “Lee ward” should be written as “leeward.” Aim for precise collocations and avoid inflated phrases such as “crucial phases” when simpler process language is clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt complex sentences and use some sequencing clauses, but control is inconsistent, which makes several sentences difficult to read. For example, “the process contains of 7 crucial phases” has an incorrect verb pattern, while “the winds from the sea approaches” has subject–verb disagreement. Verb forms also shift awkwardly in “the moisture gets mixed with winds and then went through the windward side.” Long sentences joined with commas create run-ons, especially in the introduction and the paragraph describing cloud formation and rain. Articles and plurals are also uneven. Improve accuracy by using a clear subject and verb for each stage, maintaining consistent present tense, and separating linked steps into shorter sentences with appropriate punctuation.

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