Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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)

This diagram illustrates process by which the rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overall, this is a seven steps natural process involving moist air from the sea, mountains and the dry inland areas .

The process begins when winds carrying moisture approach coast from the sea, and this wind pushed upward by the mountains. On the windward side of the mountains, the moist air rises and cool. As a result of this cooling, clouds form and eventually rain falls on this side of the mountains.

After the rain has fallen the air that continues over the mountains become dry, this dry air then move down the leeward side of the mountains. Finally, these dry winds reach the inland areas thousands of kilometers from the sea coast. Because of the lack moisture, this area becomes a rain-shadow desert.

In conclusion, the formation of a rain-shadow desert occurred due to the mountains blocking moist air, causing rain on one side and dry condition on other the other.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response covers the main stages accurately, from moisture-bearing winds approaching the coast to rain on the windward side and dry air reaching inland. The overview identifies a seven-stage natural process and captures the contrast between moist air and dry inland conditions. The final explanation that mountains cause rain on one side and dry conditions on the other is also relevant. Some details are less fully expressed: the diagram shows the air being pushed upwards, then rising and cooling before clouds form, but these links could be described more precisely. The reference to the desert being thousands of kilometres from the coast reflects the scale label, though it would be clearer to say the process extends across that distance. A more concise overview and sharper stage descriptions would strengthen the account.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information is arranged in a clear sequence, with an opening, an overview, and paragraphs that follow the process from the coast to the inland desert. Sequencing expressions such as “Overall,” “As a result,” “After,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the stages. The progression is generally logical, but some connections are awkward or repetitive. The final “In conclusion” repeats the causal summary already given, and the sentence beginning “After the rain has fallen” joins several stages with a comma, making the relationship between them less clear. The reference to “this side” is understandable but could be more precise by naming the windward side. More controlled sentence boundaries and less repetition would make the cohesion smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for describing this process, and terms such as “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” and “rain-shadow desert” show useful topic-specific range. The writer also uses process language such as “approach,” “rises,” “cool,” and “reach.” However, some word choices and collocations are imprecise or repetitive: “dry condition” is less natural than “dry conditions,” and “lack moisture” does not form the correct expression. “This wind” is also less precise than referring to the air or winds. Spelling is generally clear, although “kilometers” uses a different spelling convention from “kilometres” elsewhere in the task. More accurate collocations and varied process verbs would improve precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response attempts a mix of simple and complex sentences, including cause-and-effect structures such as “As a result of this cooling, clouds form” and “Because of the lack moisture, this area becomes…”. Meaning remains clear overall, but some grammatical errors recur. Articles are missing in “process by which” and “approach coast”; verb forms and agreement are inaccurate in “this wind pushed upward,” “air … become dry,” and “this dry air then move down.” The phrase “Because of the lack moisture” also needs a grammatical adjustment, and the final sentence contains a repeated “the.” These errors show that complex ideas are being attempted, but control is not yet consistent. Check articles, subject–verb agreement, and sentence boundaries when editing.

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

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