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 by which rain shadow deserts formed as a result of wind movement and mountains.

overall, the process involves seven main stages, beginning with the wind approaching the coast from the sea and it ends with dry wind reaching inland area, where a rain shadow desert develops. The key factor losses moister at the windward side of the mountain and releases downfall.

Initially, wind carrying moist air approach coast from the sea. As wind approach the mountain rage it forced upwards along the windward side. While the air climbs, the moist in the air rise and cools, leading to the formation of clouds. As rain continous to raise, rainfall occurs on the windward side of the mountain, resulting the loss of heavy amount of moisture.

In the next stage, the air crosses the mountain peak and descends along the leeward side. At this point, air has become considerably drier because most of its moister losses on the opposite side of the slope through rainfall. Then dry air continues over the mountain and move towards inland area. As a result very lil rainfall reaches the land on this side of the mountain.

Eventually, these dry wind extended across the inland region, creating condition in which rainfall is scarce. Overall this lack of moister leads to the formation of a rain shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response gives a clear account of the process and identifies its main stages, from moist winds approaching the coast to dry air reaching inland and a desert forming. The overview also highlights the key contrast between rainfall on the windward side and aridity beyond the mountains. Most details match the diagram, including the upward movement of air, cooling, cloud formation and precipitation. However, some explanations go beyond what is shown: for example, “most of its moisture” being lost and “very little rainfall” reaching the inland side are reasonable implications, but not explicitly depicted. The description of the final stage also repeats the desert outcome rather than adding a distinct diagram feature. Overall, the task is addressed clearly, though a few points are generalised.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is organised into an introduction, an overview and a chronological description, so the reader can follow the process from coast to inland. Sequencing phrases such as “Initially,” “In the next stage” and “Eventually” help signal progression, and the windward/leeward contrast supports the explanation. This clear overall arrangement meets the lower-band expectations, while the use of paragraphing and progression shows some qualities of a stronger response. However, cohesion is not consistently smooth: the overview repeats the desert-formation point later, and “As rain continues to raise” makes the link between rising air and rainfall unclear. Some references, such as “this side of the mountain,” could be more precise. Streamlining repeated conclusions and using clearer links between stages would improve flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” “formation of clouds” and “rainfall.” This gives it enough topic-specific language to communicate the main stages. However, the range is limited by repeated use of “air,” “wind,” “moisture” and “rain,” and several noticeable word-choice, collocation or spelling problems reduce precision. Examples include “mountain rage” for “mountain range,” “the key factor losses moister,” and “dry wind extended.” “Downfall” is also not the appropriate term for precipitation in this context. These errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the overall process, but more accurate collocations and a wider selection of process verbs would make the description clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response attempts a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “While,” “because” and “As a result,” and the overall meaning is generally recoverable. However, errors occur frequently in verb forms, agreement, articles and sentence construction. For example, “wind carrying moist air approach” needs a correctly formed subject and verb, while “it forced upwards” is missing an auxiliary. In “the moist in the air rise and cools,” the subject and verb forms do not agree, and “dry air continues over the mountain and move” shifts agreement within the same clause. The opening “overall” also needs capitalization, and some punctuation around introductory phrases is inconsistent. More reliable control of basic sentence patterns and verb agreement would make the complex sentences easier to follow.

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

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