Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-26

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.

OVERALL THE CREATION OF RAIN SHADOW DESERT TAKES PLACE IN SEVEN STAGES FROM WIND APPROACHING THE COAST TO THE DRY WIND REACHING INLAND AREA.

INITIALLY ON TOP OF THE SEA WIND APPROACH MOUNTAIN FLOWING ABOVE THE SURFACE . AFTER THAT WIND PUSHES UPWARDS IN THE MOUNTAIN REGION . FOLLOWING THAT THE FORMED MOIST AIR RISES AND COOLS DOWN WHICH HELP IN THE CREATION OF CLOUD.AFTER THE FORMATION OF CLOUD WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME RAIN FALLS OCCURS IN THE WINDWARD SIDE AND IN THE TOP MOUNTAIN RANGE . FURTHERMORE AFTER COVERING CERTAIN DISTANCE DUE TO THIE RAIN FALL, DRY AIR FLOWS OVER MOUNTAIN IN LEEWARD SIDE.IN ADDITION TO THAT DRY AIR FLOWS A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE. FINALLY AFTER PASSING THROUGH CERTAIN DISTANCE DRY WIND REACH INDLAND AREA RESULTING IN RAIN SHADOW DESERT IN THE INLAND WHICH COMPARED TO ALL STAGES TAKES MORE DISTANCE COVERAGE OF WIND.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence and give an overview that the process has seven stages, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland. The account also correctly identifies cooling, cloud formation, rainfall on the windward side, and dry air crossing the mountain. However, some details are unclear or less fully reported: the opening says the wind approaches “on top of the sea” and “flowing above the surface,” while the diagram shows winds moving from the sea towards the coast and being forced up the mountain. The final comparison about distance is difficult to interpret; the diagram indicates a horizontal scale of thousands of kilometres, not that the desert stage takes more distance than the others. Clarifying these points and describing the windward-to-leeward contrast more precisely would strengthen the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall progression: an overview is followed by stages introduced with “Initially,” “After that,” “Following that,” and “Finally.” This helps the reader follow the process from coast to inland desert. However, the sequencing language is sometimes mechanical and repetitive, with “After” and “Furthermore” used where a clearer link between cause and result would be more effective. The account is also presented as one long paragraph, and several sentences contain multiple stages, making the relationships harder to follow. For example, the sentence beginning “After the formation of cloud” moves from cloud formation to rainfall without a clean sentence boundary. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and process, and group stages into shorter, logically connected sentences.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “cools,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” and “rain shadow desert.” These terms are relevant and show an attempt to describe the diagram precisely. Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, however, such as “wind approach mountain,” “the creation of cloud,” and “rain falls occurs.” “Dry air flows a considerable distance” is also vague when the diagram labels the horizontal scale as thousands of kilometres. Spelling errors such as “thie” and “indland” reduce accuracy, while repeated use of “wind” and “distance” limits flexibility. Aim for natural process phrases such as “winds are forced upwards” and “precipitation falls on the windward slope,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex structures, including clauses with “which” and time links such as “after” and “finally.” The sequence remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur and occasionally make relationships unclear. For example, “wind approach mountain” lacks appropriate articles and subject–verb agreement, while “dry wind reach inland area” needs a plural or an agreeing verb and a determiner. The construction “which help in the creation” also has an agreement problem, and several sentence boundaries are missing or misplaced, as in “cloud.After.” There is some control of basic sequencing, but complex sentences are not consistently accurate. Practise article use, agreement, and punctuation, and make sure each sentence has a clear subject and finite verb.

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