Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-22

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)

Given image shows the formation of rain-shadow deserts. It shows the process from start to end, how the actual rain-shadow desert comes to life.

First of all winds approaches surface of sea near the mountains. Winds pushed upwards the coast of the mountains. The moist air rises and cools then it changes into cloud form when it reaches windward part of the mountains. There could be thousands of kilometers of mountains streak between sea and rain-shadow desert. Rain falls before cloud crosses the mountains and then dry air continues over the mountains to the desert side. At the end, dry winds reach inland areas on the other side of mountains. Those inland areas temperature become higher because of dry winds coming from the other side. So that area becomes really hot and convert into rain-shadow desert as the possibilities of rain in those areas are very low. Which make it a rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence: winds arrive from the sea, rise and cool over the windward side, rain falls, and dry air moves inland beyond the mountains. This gives the reader a generally accurate account of how the desert forms. However, some details are less fully or precisely reported. For example, “winds approaches surface of sea” does not clearly state that winds approach the coast, and the claim that inland areas become hotter is not shown in the diagram. The explanation that low rainfall makes the area a desert is relevant, but the response would be stronger with a concise overview highlighting the contrast between the wet windward side and dry leeward side, while avoiding unsupported temperature claims.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The stages are presented in a mostly logical order, and sequencing phrases such as “First of all” and “At the end” help the reader follow the process. The response also links the mountain crossing to the development of dry inland conditions. However, it is written as one continuous paragraph, so the overview and process details are not clearly separated. Some links feel mechanical or unclear, particularly “then it changes into cloud form” and the final sentence beginning “Which make it…”. Organise the response into a brief overview followed by the stages, and use clearer references to the air, clouds and inland area. This would make the progression easier to follow without relying on repeated sequencing language.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “windward,” “dry winds,” and “inland areas,” which helps communicate the diagram’s main features. There are also attempts at more descriptive wording, such as “streak between sea and rain-shadow desert.” Some choices are inaccurate or unnatural, however: “comes to life” is informal for this report, “cloud form” is not the natural phrase, and “convert into rain-shadow desert” does not fit the meaning. “Mountains streak” is also unclear. Aim for precise process collocations and a consistently neutral academic style—for example, describe air as moving across the mountains and the inland region as becoming arid. These refinements would improve precision while retaining your relevant vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including the sequence “The moist air rises and cools then it changes…” and a cause-and-effect explanation near the end. The overall meaning is usually understandable, but some grammatical errors remain. In “winds approaches,” the plural subject requires a plural verb; “Winds pushed upwards the coast” also has an unclear structure, and “Those inland areas temperature become higher” has problems with possession and subject–verb agreement. The final fragment, “Which make it a rain-shadow desert,” should be joined to the preceding sentence or rewritten as a complete clause. Work on agreement, sentence boundaries and forming clauses clearly; more accurate control of these structures would make your process description easier to read.

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