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 formation of rain-shadow deserts.it includes several steps for forming the desert.The required components consist of wind and rain.They play a major role in the process.The process starts with wind approaching the coast of a sea which resides by a mountain which spreads over thousands of kilometers, the wind is then pushed upwards,while the altitude increases the air gets cool and moist.which results in formation of clouds.when the rain starts to pour,the dry wind moves downward and reaches inland areas which forms the rain shadow desert.wind plays the major role in the fromation,while going up the wind is mosit and cool but in contrast .it is dry while coming down.Thats why the mountain have two sides which is the windward and leeward sides,also the type of terrain also changes. In the beginning it is sea and ends in land.In conclusion,rain shadow desert formation is a systematic process.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence: wind approaches from the sea, rises over the mountains, cools, forms clouds and produces rain before dry air reaches inland. You also identify the windward and leeward sides and the resulting desert, so the response is relevant and the overall process is understandable. However, some stages are compressed or imprecise. For example, the diagram shows dry air continuing over the mountain and dry winds reaching inland; it does not specifically show the wind moving downward. The overview that this is a “systematic process” is general rather than a clear summary of the key cause-and-effect pattern. Make the overview more informative and explain how moisture is lost on the windward side, leaving dry air on the leeward side.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows the process in a broadly logical order, moving from the coast to the mountains and then inland. Linking expressions such as “when,” “while” and “in contrast” help show sequence and contrast. However, the ideas are presented as one continuous block, and several transitions are awkward or unclear, particularly “when the rain starts to pour,the dry wind moves downward” and the later shift to “the type of terrain also changes.” The opening repeats the idea of the process without establishing a distinct overview. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and the stages, and connect each stage with clear references so the reader can follow how the air changes as it crosses the mountain.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “windward,” “leeward,” “altitude,” “moist” and “rain-shadow desert,” which gives the description an adequate range for this process. There are also attempts to describe change, such as “pushed upwards” and “reaches inland areas.” Some choices are imprecise or repetitive: “wind plays the major role” is repeated, while “the mountain which spreads over thousands of kilometers” does not clearly describe the diagram’s horizontal scale. Spelling errors such as “fromation” and “mosit” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise process language and check spelling; for example, describe air as rising, cooling, losing moisture and continuing inland as dry air.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses with “while” and “when,” and the main sequence can generally be understood. However, some sentences run together without appropriate punctuation, as in “the wind is then pushed upwards,while the altitude increases the air gets cool and moist.which results in formation of clouds.” This creates unclear sentence boundaries. There are also errors in articles and agreement, for example “results in formation” and “the mountain have two sides.” Capitalisation and apostrophes are inconsistent in “Thats why.” Use full stops to separate stages, add necessary articles (“the formation”), and check subject–verb agreement (“the mountain has”). These corrections would make your varied sentence structures clearer and more controlled.

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