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 diagram demonstrates the process through rain shadow desert is formed.

Overall, the process is quite long and contains several steps to reach at the formation. The process take place in the windward side, where the wind is blown and form clouds and then rainfall is done in the peak of mountain and the dry air flow other side to form rain shadow desert.

In the windward side, the process of cloud formation is done, when wind approach from the sea and the moist air which cool down and lifted upward and became clouds. Moreover, all the moist clouds form and the process condensation take place and rainfall begins at the peak of the mountain.

In leeward side, the dry air remains after the formation of cloud is gradually flows downward side on the other side of the mountain to the inland area. Followed this process, the dry air settled in the in land area and the formation of rain shadow desert take place.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main sequence and give an overview: moist air rises on the windward side, rain falls near the mountain, and dry air continues inland to create the desert. These are relevant features and show a sound understanding of the diagram. However, some stages are compressed or unclear. For example, the response does not clearly distinguish the formation of clouds from rainfall, and “the process take place in the windward side” overstates where the whole process occurs, since dry air then crosses the mountain and reaches inland. The description also omits the initial winds approaching from the sea and the scale of thousands of kilometres. A more precise account of each stage, while retaining the overview, would make the coverage more complete and developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and separate descriptions of the windward and leeward sides. This gives the reader a generally logical route through the process. Some linking is effective, particularly “Moreover” and “In leeward side,” but connections can feel mechanical or unclear. “Followed this process” does not smoothly express the transition from descending dry air to desert formation, and the overview repeats information later given in the body. Paragraph progression would be stronger if each stage were linked explicitly in sequence—for example, using “as a result” for rainfall and “after crossing the mountain” for the dry air—while avoiding repeated summaries.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” “condensation,” and “rainfall,” which helps communicate the diagram’s subject. There is also some attempt to use less common terms, although several choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “rain shadow desert is formed,” “rainfall is done,” and “dry air settled” do not express the process idiomatically. Repetition of “process,” “formation,” and “dry air” also limits flexibility. Choose precise verbs such as “forms,” “rises,” “cools,” “condenses,” “falls,” and “descends,” and use the standard compound “rain-shadow desert.” These improvements would make the description more natural and exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses beginning with “where” and “when,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, grammatical control is uneven, with errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction. For example, “The process take place” needs subject–verb agreement, while “the moist air which cool down and lifted upward” has faulty verb forms and an incomplete clause. In “the dry air … is gradually flows,” the auxiliary and main verb pattern is incorrect. Articles and prepositions also need attention in phrases such as “in the windward side.” Build accuracy with a reliable sequence of clauses, such as “Moist air rises, cools and forms clouds,” before attempting longer structures.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.