Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-20

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 illustrates the formation of a particular type of desert called as rain-shadow desert which is formed on mountains after several steps of process.

Overall, rain-shadow desert consist on seven different steps starting from ocean winds to rain shadow desert across the distance of thousands of kilometres from the coast.The area showing on mountains where rain falls presented as windward side and the other one is leeward side where rain-shadow desert formed.

First looking at windward side, the rain starts from the ocean, from ocean winds approach coast and then winds forced upwards to the mountain. on the third step, air becomes moist there and cools which formulate clouds and finally on windward side rain falls and water went again to the sea.

On the other hand, leeward side, dry air blows relegiously over the mountain and goes downwards to the inland areas, after the last and final step rain-shadow desert formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main sequence from coastal winds to the inland rain-shadow desert, and your overview identifies the windward and leeward sides as well as the broad distance involved. These features show a sound understanding of the diagram. Some details, however, are unclear or inaccurate: rain does not “start from the ocean,” and the diagram shows rain falling on the windward side rather than water going back to the sea. The final stage is also described vaguely as the desert forming, instead of explaining that dry winds reach inland areas and create the rain-shadow conditions. To strengthen the response, report each stage precisely and distinguish the movement of air from the formation of the desert.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate descriptions of the windward and leeward sides. Sequencing phrases such as “Overall,” “First looking at,” and “On the other hand” help guide the reader through the process. However, some links are mechanical or do not express the relationship accurately; for example, “On the third step” is followed by several stages, and “On the other hand” suggests a contrast rather than the next part of the process. The long second sentence also combines several overview points without clear separation. Use more precise stage links such as “Next” and “After crossing the mountain,” and make each paragraph’s progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist,” “coast,” and “inland,” which gives the response an adequate range for describing the diagram. There are also attempts at less common wording, but some choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “formulate clouds” is not the usual collocation, “water went again to the sea” misrepresents the diagram, and “relegiously” appears to be an incorrect word choice or spelling. Repetition of “step” and “formed” also limits flexibility. Aim for precise process verbs and natural collocations, such as “clouds form,” “precipitation falls,” and “dry air moves inland.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses linked with “which” and “where,” but control is uneven. Errors in agreement and articles appear in “rain-shadow desert consist” and “a particular type of desert called as rain-shadow desert.” Sentence boundaries and punctuation also need attention: “on the third step” begins with a lowercase letter after a full stop, while the final paragraph starts with a fragment-like construction, “On the other hand, leeward side.” Several sentences are overloaded, making their grammatical relationships harder to follow. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement, article use, and complete sentence structures, then check capitalisation and punctuation when editing.

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