Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-28

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 figure illustrates the formation of rain-shadow desert which is one of the type of deserts.

Overall, it can be seen that the process contains seven steps which are connected to each other. If anyone of them is skipped, the whole process may halt. This procedure initiates with winds approaching the coast from the west side and ends when the dry winds reach the inland areas from leeward side .

It is evident that the wind which comes from the sea approaches the coast. Afterwards, winds are pushed upward towards windward side and this makes the air moist which rises. The next step starts with formation of the clouds in windward side. In the following stage, the rain starts and falls on the mountains.

Moving attention toward rest of the information, in the subsequent step, after rain, dry air continues over the mountain in leeward side and lastly, dry wind reaches inland areas and rain-shadow desert is formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence and give an overview that the process has seven stages, beginning with winds approaching the coast and ending with dry winds reaching inland areas. The account also correctly identifies cloud formation and rainfall on the mountain before dry air moves beyond it. However, some stages are not described accurately: the diagram shows moist air rising and cooling, rather than the upward movement making the air moist, and the final desert is presented as formed at the end, although the diagram labels its location without explicitly showing a separate formation stage. The overview’s comment that skipping a step may halt the process is not information shown in the diagram. To strengthen the response, report the cooling and rain-shadow effect precisely and avoid adding unsupported claims.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is arranged in a generally logical order: an introduction and overview are followed by the coastal and mountain stages, then the movement of dry air inland. Sequencing expressions such as “Afterwards,” “The next step,” and “lastly” help the reader follow the process. However, some linking is mechanical or awkward, particularly “Moving attention toward rest of the information,” and the overview repeats the final stage that is described again in the body. References such as “this” in “this makes the air moist” are not fully clear, and the paragraphing could distinguish the overview more cleanly from the detailed sequence. Use straightforward transitions and ensure each sentence advances one stage without repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “formation,” “approaches,” “pushed upward,” “clouds,” “rain,” and “leeward side.” These terms make the general sequence understandable, and some task-specific language is included. However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural: “one of the type of deserts” has an incorrect form, “the rain starts and falls” is repetitive, and “dry wind reaches inland areas” does not match the plural wording used elsewhere. “The rest of the information” is also vague for describing a diagram. Aim for precise process collocations and consistent terminology, such as “moist air rises and cools,” “precipitation falls,” and “dry winds continue inland.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

There is a mix of simple sentences and more complex forms, including the overview clause “which are connected to each other” and the time sequence “after rain, dry air continues…”. The main stages remain understandable despite some grammatical errors. These include article and number problems in “one of the type of deserts,” “If anyone of them,” and “from leeward side,” as well as an inaccurate clause structure in “this makes the air moist which rises.” The sentence beginning “The next step starts with formation” also needs an article. Punctuation and spacing are inconsistent, with extra spaces before some full stops. Practise accurate articles, plural forms, and clauses that clearly identify what is rising or moving.

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

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