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 flow diagram illustrates the formation of desert called as rain-shadow desert.

Overall, this process of desert formation starts from the winds approach coast and ends at dry winds reach inland areas.

In first step, winds approach the coast through sea then it pushed upwards in next step. Due to which moist air rises and cools in third step then ultimately the cloud formation occur and move towards the top of mountains from windward side. In next step, heavy rain fall started on the mountains top.

After that the dry air continues over mountain from leeward side in the sixth step which plays really important role in desert formation. In seventh and final step the dry which come from previous step reach the inland areas, which is crucial step of this formation process, after that the rain-shadow desert formed. Apart from this, the distance of mountains is thousands of kilometres.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You describe the main sequence from winds approaching the coast to dry air reaching inland, and your overview identifies the process’s beginning and end. You also include the key contrast between the windward and leeward sides and explain that rain falls over the mountains before dry air continues inland. However, some details are less fully or accurately reported: the diagram shows clouds forming above the windward side, but your account says they “move towards the top of mountains,” which is not clearly indicated. The final reference to “the distance of mountains” being thousands of kilometres misreads the scale arrow, which indicates horizontal distance. Clarifying how the rain-shadow desert results from dry winds reaching inland would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response follows the process in a generally logical order, and the use of “In first step,” “In next step,” and “After that” helps readers track the stages. The opening overview also gives the account a clear starting and ending point. However, the sequencing language is somewhat mechanical and repetitive, and some links between ideas are awkward: “Due to which” begins a fragment, while “then ultimately” and “In next step” make the progression less smooth. The paragraphing separates the overview from the stages, but the process details would be easier to follow if grouped into clearer stages and connected with more varied references, such as “as a result” or “once the air crosses the mountain.”

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” and “inland areas,” which helps convey the diagram’s main features. Some less common terms are attempted, but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “the cloud formation occur,” “heavy rain fall started,” and “the dry which come” make parts of the description less precise. “Plays really important role” is also informal for an academic process summary, and “distance of mountains” does not express the scale label accurately. Aim for precise collocations and consistent technical wording, for example, “clouds form,” “rain falls,” and “dry air reaches inland areas.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a sequence linked with “then” and a clause beginning “which is crucial step.” However, some grammatical errors recur and occasionally make relationships between stages unclear. Examples include “this process … starts from the winds approach coast,” “it pushed upwards,” and “the cloud formation occur,” where verb forms, agreement, or sentence structure need correction. “Due to which” is an incomplete sentence, and “which is crucial step” is missing an article. There is also inconsistent control of articles and tense. Practise forming complete clauses and maintaining a consistent present simple for process descriptions: “The winds are pushed upwards,” followed by “the moist air rises and cools.”

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