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)

The diagram below illustrates that how a rain-shadow desert, is formed in nature.This is done in 7 steps.

Overall, It initiates when winds approach the coast from sea side.It is pushed further in upward direction towards windward side where moist air rises and cools,leading to form clouds later on.After that,the process involves raining and dry air starts to move over mountain and then towards leeward side.When the dry winds reach inland areas, It ends up in forming the rain-shadow desert.

The first step illustrates the approach of winds at coast from sea.In second step, the winds are elevated at windward area of mountain.The third step demonstrates the rise and cooling of moist air and fourth step leads to formation of clouds.The fifth step involves raining.Then, the dry air descend from mountain towards leeward side in the sixth step.Finally, the last step shows that when the dry winds arrive inland areas,It results in forming rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the full sequence and identify the key outcome: moist air rises and cools, rain falls on the mountain’s windward side, and dry winds continue inland to create the desert. The overview also gives the reader a useful sense of the process from coast to inland. Some details, however, are less precise: “the dry air descend from mountain” suggests movement down the mountain, whereas the diagram shows dry air continuing over it toward the leeward side. The description could also make the contrast between the rainy windward side and the dry leeward inland area clearer. More precise reporting of these spatial relationships would make the account more complete and accurate.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is arranged in a sensible order, with an overview followed by a step-by-step account, and sequence markers such as “The first step,” “Then,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the process. This gives the description a coherent overall progression. However, the overview repeats much of the same sequence that is then described in detail, and several transitions feel mechanical because they rely on step labels. Some referencing is also unclear, particularly “It ends up in forming,” where “it” does not point clearly to a specific stage or condition. To improve, keep the overview focused on the main pattern and use more varied links to show cause and movement between stages.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “approach,” “windward,” “moist air,” “formation,” and “inland areas,” which allows you to describe the diagram’s main stages. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “illustrates” and “demonstrates.” Some choices are inaccurate or unnatural, however: “raining” is less suitable than “rainfall” or “precipitation,” and “in upward direction” is awkward where “upwards” would be more natural. “It results in forming” is also an imprecise collocation. Aim for concise, conventional process language and use the diagram’s labels consistently, especially for the movement of air across the mountain.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple sentences and longer clauses, for example, “The third step demonstrates the rise and cooling of moist air and fourth step leads to formation of clouds.” The sequence remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. The opening “illustrates that how” uses an unnecessary “that,” and “a rain-shadow desert, is formed” has incorrect comma placement. There are also article and verb-form problems in “from sea side,” “the dry air descend,” and “fourth step leads.” Capitalisation after full stops is inconsistent, as in “nature.This” and “areas,It.” Check sentence boundaries, articles, and subject–verb agreement, while retaining the longer structures you attempt.

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