Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-23

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 process of formation of a type of a desert,known as rain-shadow desert.

The process shows how wind arising from the coast move upwards, it turns into rain after passing through a series of steps and then as it moves downward it turns into dry wind when it reaches the land.

Winds arising from the sea move towards the coast.They are pushed upward by the mountains, the moist air then rises and cools down on the windward side of the mountain.As the air cools it is turned into clouds, those in turn produces rain.The remaining dry air continues moving over the mountain on the leeward side in downwad direction.The dry winds finally reach the inland area which form the rain shadow desert.

The process shows how wind is the main factor in formation of desert on land.It passes through a series of steps to create the rain shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence accurately: winds move from the sea towards the coast, rise over the mountains, cool and form clouds, rain falls on the windward side, and dry air continues inland to create the desert. This gives the reader a relevant account of the process. However, the overview is not fully clear: saying the wind “turns into rain” oversimplifies the stages, since moisture in the rising air forms clouds and precipitation, while the air itself becomes dry. The final paragraph repeats the general point rather than highlighting the key contrast between the wet windward side and dry leeward side. Make that contrast explicit and keep the overview precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows the diagram’s sequence, and the central paragraph moves from the coast to the mountains and then inland, so the overall arrangement is understandable. Paragraphing also separates the introduction, overview, and process details. However, progression is weakened by repetition: the final paragraph restates that wind causes the desert without adding a distinct feature. Some links are awkward or unclear, particularly “it turns into rain after passing through a series of steps,” and the comma splice in “The process shows how wind is the main factor… It passes…” could be avoided by making the relationship between ideas more direct. Use a concise overview and clearer stage-to-stage links.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” “dry air,” and “inland,” which helps describe the diagram. There is also some variation in how the stages are expressed, such as “move,” “rises,” and “continues.” However, several choices are imprecise or repetitive: wind does not “turn into rain,” and “wind arising from the coast” is less accurate than describing winds approaching from the sea. “The remaining dry air” is understandable but could be expressed more naturally as “the now-dry air.” Spelling and word-form slips such as “downwad” and “produces” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise process collocations and check spelling and agreement.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex structures, including the sequence “As the air cools…” and the relative clause “which form the rain shadow desert.” The stages are generally understandable, but some grammatical errors remain. In “wind arising from the coast move upwards,” the subject and verb do not agree; “those in turn produces rain” also has an agreement error. The sentence beginning “The process shows how wind arising…” contains a comma splice, while missing spaces after full stops and commas affect punctuation. Articles and number are also inconsistent in “a type of a desert” and “the mountain.” Review subject–verb agreement, sentence boundaries, and article use, while retaining the complex sentence forms you have attempted.

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