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)

The process diagram illustrate the process by which the rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overall, the process includes seven stages beginning with winds approaching coast and ending with dry winds reaching inland areas. The winds approach coast, pushed upwards and then cooled and rised as moist air, forming clouds resulted in rain. After that, dry air continues over mountain and reached inland areas.

The process started when winds approaching coast over the sea. Next, they pushed upwards and turned into moist air which then rised and cooled along with the windward side of mountains. In the fourth stage, the moist air resulted in the formation of clouds which causes rain fall in fifth stage.

In the sixth stage, after rain the dry air continues over mountain downward along with leeward side of mountains. Subsequentaly, dry winds reached inland areas in seven stage at sea. Finally, the rain-shadow desert is formed inland from those dry winds.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main sequence and provide an overview that identifies the seven stages, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland areas. The account also correctly links rising, cooling moist air with cloud formation and rainfall, then describes the air continuing over the mountain. This gives the reader a sound general picture of the process. Some details, however, are unclear or inaccurate: “turned into moist air” suggests the wind becomes moist at that point, whereas the diagram shows moist air rising and cooling; “at sea” incorrectly places the final inland stage. The role of the windward and leeward sides is mentioned but not clearly contrasted. More precise explanation of these relationships would make the coverage more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the stages in sequence. Sequencing expressions such as “Next,” “In the fourth stage,” and “In the sixth stage” help the reader follow the process. The overview also gives a useful start-to-finish summary. However, some links between ideas are awkward or unclear, particularly “forming clouds resulted in rain” and “dry air continues over mountain downward along with leeward side.” Repetition of “stage” and repeated descriptions of the same sequence make the progression somewhat mechanical. Use clearer cause-and-effect links and refer to the air consistently, so each stage connects naturally to the next.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” “dry winds,” and “rain-shadow desert,” which shows an adequate range for describing this diagram. The repeated use of “process,” “stage,” and “winds” limits flexibility, while several word choices or forms are inaccurate: “rised” and “subsequentaly” are misspelled, and “resulted in the formation of clouds” is an awkward collocation for this context. “At sea” is also an imprecise choice for the inland endpoint. Aim for more natural process language and accurate forms, such as “the air rises,” “clouds form,” and “the winds reach inland areas.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

There is some variety in sentence structure, including a relative clause in “the process by which…” and time clauses such as “when winds approaching coast.” The sequence remains understandable overall, but some errors in verb forms, agreement, and articles recur. For example, “The process diagram illustrate” needs subject–verb agreement, while “winds approaching coast” and “over mountain” need appropriate articles. Tense and verb-form control is also uneven in “winds approach coast, pushed upwards” and “dry air continues … and reached inland areas.” Use the past simple consistently to describe completed stages, or the present simple consistently for a general process, and check agreement and article use in each sentence.

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.