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 above diagram illustrates the formation of a specific type of desert which is rain-shadow desert.

The formation of rain-shadow deserts consist of 7 major steps beginning with moist air approaching the coast, continues with rain fall at coast crest of mountain,and ending with dry air descending towards the inland causing rain-shadow desert.

At the first step, the wind coming from the sea, approaches towards the coast and is pushed upward by the mountain. On rising of the wind, it cools down and forms clouds which subsequently causes the rain to fall at the coastel crest of the mountain. Due to rain fall, the air becomes dry which continues to descend towads the leeward side of the mountain. At the end, the dry winds reaches inland areas that causes the formation of rain-shadow desert which is thousands of kilometers far from the coast.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the process as rain-shadow desert formation and give a clear overall sequence, from winds arriving at the coast to dry air reaching inland. The main stages—uplift, cooling, cloud formation, rainfall, and the continuation of dry air—are included, so the response addresses the task. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the windward side is not simply the “coastel crest,” and the diagram shows dry air continuing over the mountain rather than specifically “descending.” The claim that the desert is “thousands of kilometers far from the coast” also overstates the scale label, which indicates a horizontal distance of thousands of kilometres. The response is 143 words, below the required 150; develop the stages and their relationship more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a sensible overall progression: an introduction, a summary of the sequence, and a paragraph describing the stages in order. Time and cause links such as “At the first step,” “On rising,” “subsequently,” and “At the end” help the reader follow the process. This clear organisation is a strength. To make the progression more polished, avoid repeating the same sequence information in the overview and the final paragraph, and use transitions that show the physical relationship between stages more precisely. For example, explain that moisture is lost as rain on the windward side, after which the air crosses the mountain and reaches inland. Some punctuation and spacing around clauses also interrupt the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a relevant range of process vocabulary, including “approaches,” “pushed upward,” “forms clouds,” “leeward side,” and “inland areas.” These terms help convey the diagram’s stages, and the meaning is generally clear. There are, however, several spelling and word-choice problems, including “coastel,” “towads,” and “rain fall.” Some combinations are also imprecise: “coast crest of the mountain” does not clearly identify the windward slope, while “thousands of kilometers far” is an awkward way to describe the diagram’s scale. Aim for accurate geographical terms and natural collocations, and check spelling carefully. More precise vocabulary would make the process easier to visualise without adding unnecessary complexity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a relative clause in “which subsequently causes the rain to fall” and a sequence of linked actions in the final paragraph. The main meaning remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. In the overview, “The formation … consist” has subject–verb disagreement, and “beginning with …, continues with … and ending” does not maintain a consistent grammatical form. In “the dry winds reaches,” the plural subject requires a plural verb; “that causes” also does not agree naturally with the preceding plural noun. Several long sentences would benefit from clearer clause boundaries and punctuation. Check agreement, parallel structure, and sentence boundaries while retaining a mix of sentence forms.

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