Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-27

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 information regarding the process of rain-shadow desert formation involves several steps has been illustrated by assigned diagram.

Overall, this is a natural process and includes seven consecutive steps . Beginning with approaching of air with coast and culminating with reaching of dry winds to inland areas . All the steps are mandatory and omission of any step will halt the entire process .

Initially , the winds are approached the coast of the sea after that winds is pushed upwards towards the windward side . Afterwards , the air has become moist and rises and coll down along with the mountain . Once , the air moists it forms cloud in the sky .

In the second last step , after the cloud formation the rain finally falls just above the mountain . Furthermore , dry air continues over mountain along the leeward side . In the last step , dry winds reach the inland areas and form the rain-shadow desert .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence and give an overall summary, identifying seven stages from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland. The account also correctly places rainfall above the mountain and the desert inland beyond the leeward side. However, some stages are less fully or clearly explained: the diagram shows moist air rising and cooling, followed by cloud formation and rain on the windward side, whereas your description says the air “coll down along with the mountain” and that clouds form once the air “moists.” The claim that omitting any step would halt the process is not shown by the diagram and does not help summarise it. Clarifying the cooling and rain-shadow effect would make the key features more complete and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the earlier and later stages. The sequence is generally easy to follow, with markers such as “Initially,” “Afterwards,” and “In the last step.” This gives the account an overall coherent arrangement. However, some linking is mechanical or imprecise: “In the second last step” does not clearly introduce the rainfall stage, and “Once” is used awkwardly before the cloud-formation point. The overview also repeats the sequence rather than highlighting the relationship between rainfall on the windward side and dry conditions inland. Use clearer stage transitions and connect cause and effect more explicitly to improve progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist,” “cloud formation,” and “rain-shadow desert,” which helps communicate the diagram’s subject. Some less common terms are attempted, but several choices or collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “assigned diagram,” “approaching of air with coast,” and “the air moists.” These sometimes make the description less precise, although the main meaning remains understandable. Prefer standard process language and accurate collocations, for example “the diagram illustrates,” “winds approach the coast,” and “moist air rises and cools.” This would make your vocabulary more natural and better suited to an academic process description.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including sequencing clauses and the sentence beginning “after the cloud formation.” However, some grammatical errors recur and occasionally make relationships between stages unclear. For example, “The information … involves several steps has been illustrated” has an incorrect clause structure, while “the winds are approached” and “winds is pushed” show problems with passive forms and subject–verb agreement. There are also errors in articles and sentence boundaries, as in “it forms cloud” and the fragments beginning “Beginning with” and “In the last step.” Aim for a clear subject and verb in each sentence, check agreement and verb forms, and avoid separating introductory phrases into fragments.

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

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