Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-19

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 schematic diagram illustrates the process of formation of one type of desert, known as rain shadow dessert.

The major source of this desert formation is the wind, coming from the sea. Once this wind approches the coast, it is pushed upwards. Afterwards the moist air rises and then cools down, for formation of the clouds at the Windward side of the mountain. This in return becomes the reason for rain falls. When the rain finishes, dry air now continues downward over mountain at the Leeward side and then from their the dry winds reach inland areas. As the result, in those inland ares rain shadow desert are formed.

All of this rain shadow desert formation process took place in thousands of kilometres emerging from a start point of the mountain that is conneced to the sea and coast and then ending to a finish point that is connected to the inland areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence from sea winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland, and you identify the rain-shadow desert as the outcome. This gives the reader a relevant account of the process. However, some stages are less fully or precisely described: for example, the diagram shows dry air continuing over the mountain, but “continues downward over mountain” may suggest a different movement. The final sentence also focuses on the process spanning “thousands of kilometres” without clearly explaining that this is the horizontal scale shown. A clearer overview of the contrast between rain on the windward side and dry conditions beyond the leeward side, followed by more exact stage descriptions, would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The stages are presented in a generally logical order, and sequencing expressions such as “Once,” “Afterwards,” and “then” help the reader follow the process. The response also moves from the incoming wind to the inland desert, so its overall arrangement is coherent. However, the account is compressed into two paragraphs, with the second adding little beyond a restatement of the route and scale. Some links are mechanical or unclear: “This in return” does not clearly identify what causes the rainfall, while “When the rain finishes” makes the transition sound like a timed event rather than a change in air conditions. Grouping the stages into a concise overview and a clearly linked sequence would improve progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “clouds,” “dry winds,” “Windward side,” and “Leeward side,” which helps communicate the diagram’s subject. There are also attempts at more specific wording, such as “schematic diagram” and “formation.” However, spelling and word-choice errors reduce precision: “dessert” is used for “desert,” and “approches,” “their,” “ares,” and “conneced” are misspelled. Some combinations are also unnatural, including “the reason for rain falls” and “a start point of the mountain.” Aim for accurate spelling and standard process collocations, such as “rainfall occurs” and “the windward slope,” to make the description more natural and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes both simple and more developed sentence forms, for example, “Once this wind approaches the coast, it is pushed upwards,” and the sequence is generally understandable. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with articles, agreement, and sentence construction. In “for formation of the clouds,” an article or a different construction is needed; “rain shadow desert are formed” has a singular–plural mismatch; and “in those inland areas” needs a more complete grammatical structure. The final sentence is also awkwardly constructed, with several clauses joined into one long sentence. Practise accurate noun phrases and agreement, and divide complex explanations into controlled clauses while retaining a mix of sentence patterns.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.