Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-24

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 different stages by which the rain-shadow in deserts is formed.

Overall, it is a seven stages process, beginning with the wind approach from the sea coast and eanding with the dry wind reaching into the inland areas.

In the first four stages, it explains how the cloud formation take place. It starts with the wind approaching the sea coast and the wind pushed toward the mountains. Followed by the formation of moist air, which rises and cools at same on the windward side. Which lead to the formation of clouds just above the mountain.

In the second stage, these sudden change in the atmosphere causes rain falls over the mountains. Moreover, the dry air continues over the mountain, Followed by the leeward side of the mountain.

These dry winds travel a long distance, approximetly thousands of kilometres to reach the Inland areas of the desert. Hence, the rain-shadow is formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response identifies the process as a sequence and gives a clear overall start and end, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland. It also reports the key stages of rising, cooling, cloud formation, rainfall, and the continuation of dry air beyond the mountains. This covers the main features, with the final reference to the rain-shadow desert showing the outcome. However, some details are unclear or imprecise: “the formation of moist air” suggests the air is created rather than already moist air rising, and the explanation of rainfall and the leeward side is not fully developed. The overview is useful, but a more precise account of how moisture is lost on the windward side and dry air descends inland would make the process more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an overview followed by descriptions of the earlier and later stages. The sequence is generally understandable, and phrases such as “In the first four stages” and “Moreover” help signal progression. However, the organisation is not consistently clear: “In the second stage” refers to rainfall even though this is the fifth step, and “Followed by the leeward side” does not clearly connect to the preceding idea. Several sentence fragments beginning “Followed by” and “Which lead” interrupt the flow. Use one paragraph for the overview and one or two for the process, then connect each stage with accurate sequencing language and complete sentences.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

There is adequate vocabulary for describing the process, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” “dry winds,” and “rain-shadow.” These terms show some awareness of the topic-specific language needed. Some word choices and collocations are less natural or imprecise, however: “wind approach from the sea coast,” “wind pushed toward the mountains,” and “sudden change in the atmosphere” do not describe the diagram as clearly as they could. Spelling errors such as “eanding” and “approximetly” also reduce accuracy, though the intended meaning is usually recoverable. Aim for precise process verbs and standard collocations, such as “winds approach the coast,” “air is forced upwards,” and “rain falls on the windward side.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex forms, including a sequence overview and clauses describing what happens as air rises. However, control is uneven, and several errors affect sentence completeness and agreement. For example, “it is a seven stages process” has incorrect number agreement, while “the cloud formation take place” has a subject–verb agreement error. “Followed by the formation…” and “Which lead…” are fragments rather than complete sentences, and “at same” is missing an article. Capitalisation and punctuation are also inconsistent, as in “Followed” after a comma and “Inland” mid-sentence. Build each stage into a complete sentence, check singular/plural agreement, and use articles consistently.

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

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