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)

This diagram illustrates the step by step formation of rain-shadow desert.

According to the information provided in the diagram, a rain-shadow desert is evolved in seven different steps. Geographically it occurs between sea, mountains and inlands. The whole process starts from the sea and after covering thousand kilometers of mountains it ends at inland. It uses two sides of mountain i.e the windward side in which air rises up and the Leeward side.

The process initiates when winds approach coast and is pushed upwards. This causes the moist air to rise and then cool, resulting in the formation of clouds and hence rainfall. All this rising mechanism occurs on windward side of mountain.

After rainfall next step occur on Leeward side in which the dry air continues over the mountain until it reaches the inland areas and form rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a seven-stage process and report its main sequence: winds arrive from the sea, rise and cool, produce clouds and rain on the windward side, then continue as dry air inland. This covers the central mechanism, but some details are unclear or inaccurate: “after covering thousand kilometers of mountains” misreads the horizontal scale, which indicates thousands of kilometres across the diagram rather than air crossing that distance over the mountains. The overview also says the desert “occurs between sea, mountains and inlands,” rather than clearly locating it inland beyond the leeward side. The response is 140 words, below the required 150, and several stages receive only brief treatment. Add a clearer overview and explain the transition from rainfall to dry winds reaching the inland desert.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information is arranged in a sensible order, moving from a brief introduction and overview to the windward-side stages and then the leeward-side outcome. Paragraphing helps distinguish these parts, and links such as “This causes,” “resulting in,” and “After rainfall” make the sequence easy to follow. This is a coherent overall structure. However, some connections are mechanical or imprecise: “According to the information provided” adds little, while “The whole process starts from the sea and after covering…” creates a confusing link between the sea, mountains, and scale. The final paragraph also compresses several stages into one sentence. Use more precise references to the diagram’s locations and give each major phase enough space to make progression clearer.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “windward side,” “Leeward side,” “formation of clouds,” and “rain-shadow desert.” These terms help communicate the stages and show some awareness of the topic’s specific language. There are, however, several inaccurate or awkward choices: “is evolved” is not a natural way to describe how a desert forms, “inlands” is not the appropriate noun here, and “covering thousand kilometers of mountains” gives an unclear impression of the scale. “Rising mechanism” is also less natural than a direct description of air rising. Aim for precise collocations and consistent terminology, such as “forms,” “inland areas,” and “thousands of kilometres across.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including cause-and-effect structures such as “This causes the moist air to rise and then cool, resulting in the formation of clouds.” Most of the sequence remains understandable, but some grammatical errors and awkward constructions persist. For example, “a rain-shadow desert is evolved” uses an unsuitable verb form, and “winds approach coast and is pushed upwards” has an article omission and subject–verb agreement problem. “After rainfall next step occur” also needs an article and agreement, while “until it reaches the inland areas and form” shifts from singular “it” to a plural verb. Check articles, agreement, and consistent subjects when describing each stage; these corrections would make the process easier to follow.

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