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, It is one of the many kinds of desert where a big range of mountains are present before the plain fields.

Firstly the moist winds approaches from the sea to the coast line area where the faced mountains which are present in thousands of kilometers of area. As soon as the winds reach the range of mountains they are pushed upwards, while moist air rises its temperature starts declining after reaching at specific point its starts forming clouds, as they reach at the top of mountain they starts to rain.

Due to rain at the top mountain the air lost all its moisture and become dry, then the dry air continues to flow downwards over the leeward side of mountain terrain and at the end range of mountains the completed dry winds reach to the inland areas where it hardly rains.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main sequence accurately: winds arrive from the sea, rise over the mountains, cool and form clouds, rain falls on the windward side, and dry air continues inland to create the desert. The final point that it “hardly rains” inland also conveys the contrast between the two sides. This gives the response a clear account of the process. However, there is no distinct overview summarising the key pattern, and some details are imprecise: the diagram indicates a horizontal scale of thousands of kilometres, not that the mountains themselves extend for that distance. The opening claim about “plain fields” is not shown. To strengthen the response, add a concise overview and keep every description closely tied to the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The process is presented in a sensible order, and paragraphing separates the introduction from the stages and their outcome. Sequencing expressions such as “Firstly,” “As soon as,” and “then” help the reader follow the movement from coast to inland. The overall progression is clear, though the links sometimes feel mechanical, and the second paragraph packs several stages into one long sentence. Some references are also unclear, particularly “after reaching at specific point” and “they reach at the top,” where the reader must infer what “they” refers to. Use clearer stage-by-stage sentences and more precise references, and include a separate overview to make the organisation more complete and purposeful.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a relevant range of process vocabulary, including “moist winds,” “pushed upwards,” “leeward side,” and “inland areas,” which helps explain the diagram. The contrast between moist air and “dry winds” is also communicated. However, some word choices and collocations are imprecise or informal for this task: “big range of mountains,” “plain fields,” and “the completed dry winds” do not describe the process naturally. “Coast line area” is unnecessarily wordy, while “temperature starts declining” could be expressed more precisely as the air cools. Aim for accurate geographical terms and natural collocations, rather than adding descriptive phrases that are not supported by the diagram.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, using time and cause links such as “As soon as” and “Due to,” but control is inconsistent. Errors include subject–verb agreement in “the moist winds approaches” and “they starts,” and incorrect verb forms in “the air lost all its moisture and become dry.” Articles and sentence boundaries also need attention: “at the top mountain” lacks a necessary article, and the opening comma splice joins two independent clauses incorrectly. The long sentence beginning “As soon as the winds reach” contains several clauses that are difficult to control. Practise checking agreement and tense, and divide complex descriptions into shorter sentences with accurate punctuation.

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