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 desert. The whole process begins at the windward side of the mountains and ends at the leeward side towards the inland areas, stretching across thousands of kilometres across coast and inland areas.

The winds approach the coast of the sea and when pushed upwards towards the mountains, the moisture is added up to the air and it causes the formation of clouds as the moist air is being cooled or condensed. The formation of clouds causes rainfall and as the moisture is dried out of the air, it moves leeward side over the mountains and continues moving downward towards the inland areas. The dry winds reaching the inland areas causes formation of rain shadow desert.

So, the whole process of rain-shadow desert formation involves air moving along the wind causing cloud formation and rainfall and then dried up air moving across the wind towards inland areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the process as a sequence from coastal winds to an inland rain-shadow desert, and you include the key stages of uplift, cooling, cloud formation, rainfall and dry air moving beyond the mountains. This covers the main features and gives a clear overall account. However, some stages are not described precisely: the diagram shows moist air rising and cooling before clouds form, whereas “the moisture is added up to the air” suggests moisture is added rather than carried by the air. The overview also says the process begins at the windward side, although the winds first approach the coast. To strengthen the response, report the stages in the diagram’s exact order and distinguish the windward rainfall from the dry leeward inland area more explicitly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a generally logical progression: an opening overview is followed by the sequence of events and a concluding summary. Time and cause links such as “when,” “as,” and “then” help the reader follow the process. The sequence is mostly clear, but the final paragraph repeats the same broad account rather than adding a distinct concluding insight. Some links also make the relationships less precise, particularly “as the moisture is dried out of the air,” which compresses the transition from rainfall to dry air continuing over the mountain. Paragraphing is present, though the stages could be grouped more deliberately. Use a clearer step-by-step progression and avoid restating the process in the conclusion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward,” “leeward,” “moist air,” “rainfall,” and “inland areas,” which is appropriate for describing this diagram. There is also some variation in how you refer to the stages. However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural: “moisture is added up to the air” does not accurately express the air’s moisture content, and “the moisture is dried out of the air” is an awkward collocation. “The winds approach the coast of the sea” is also less concise than necessary. These choices do not prevent understanding, but they limit precision. Aim for standard process terms such as “moist air rises,” “cools,” “precipitates,” and “dry air descends,” and avoid repeating “formation” where a more exact verb is available.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, using clauses with “when,” “as,” and “and” to connect stages. The overall meaning remains understandable, but some grammatical errors and awkward sentence constructions reduce accuracy. For example, “The dry winds reaching the inland areas causes” has a subject–verb agreement error; “winds” requires “cause,” or the clause could be recast. In “it moves leeward side,” the article and preposition pattern are incomplete, and “towards the inland areas causes formation” also has an unclear subject structure. The long second sentence joins several stages and makes these relationships harder to control. Use shorter, clearly structured sentences for each stage, while checking agreement, articles and prepositions.

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