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 how a rain-shadow desert is formed. This process involves seven stages.

Overall, this is a natural process, which involves natural phenomenon. In the first stage, blow of winds come above the sea, and in the last stage, those winds losse its moisture and reached at inland areas, where rain-shadow desert phenomenon take placed. In addition, the distance between sea and rain-shadow desert is thousands of kilometres far.

In the beginning, wind comes from the above of sea, and move towards mountains, where those winds are pushed upward. At certain height, the air absorbs moisture and cool itselfe while moving upward. In the windward side, clouds are formed. After that, the rain falls from those clouds.

Subsequently, those rain drops goes back to the sea and dry air move down from the mountains to the leeward side, and declined steadily until Inland. When the dry air come to the inalnd, Rain-shadow desert is formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response covers the main sequence, from winds approaching the coast to rain falling on the windward side and dry air reaching the inland desert. The opening overview also identifies a seven-stage process, and the reference to the distance of thousands of kilometres reflects the diagram. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the diagram shows moist air rising and cooling, not air absorbing moisture at that point, and it does not show raindrops returning to the sea. The description of the final movement of dry air is also less precise than the diagram’s account that it continues over the mountain. To strengthen the response, report these stages more faithfully and make the overall contrast between rainfall on the windward side and dry conditions inland explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information is arranged in a clear sequence, with an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the earlier and later stages. Connectors such as “In the beginning,” “After that,” and “Subsequently” help the reader follow the process, and the progression is generally easy to understand. This meets the lower-band expectations and shows some of the flexibility associated with stronger cohesion. However, a few references are difficult to follow, particularly “those winds” and “those rain drops,” and the overview repeats the idea of a natural process without adding much. Use clearer references to “the air” or “the rainfall,” and make each paragraph contribute distinct information rather than repeating the sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moisture,” and “rain-shadow desert,” so the topic is generally clear. It also attempts more specific wording such as “pushed upward” and “declined steadily.” However, several inaccurate or awkward choices reduce precision: “blow of winds,” “absorbs moisture,” and “rain drops goes back” do not describe the diagram naturally. Spelling and word-form slips, including “inalnd” and “phenomenon take placed,” are also noticeable. Build a more reliable set of process collocations—such as “winds blow in from the sea,” “moist air cools as it rises,” and “dry air moves inland”—and check spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

There is some variety in sentence structure, including a relative clause in “where rain-shadow desert phenomenon take placed” and a time clause in “while moving upward.” The sequence remains understandable overall, but errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction are persistent enough to limit accuracy. For example, “those winds losse its moisture and reached” shifts between incompatible verb forms and has unclear agreement, while “the rain drops goes” uses a singular verb with a plural subject. “When the dry air come” also needs a correctly inflected verb. Practise forming accurate present-simple descriptions of processes, especially subject–verb agreement and consistent verb forms, before adding longer clauses.

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

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