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 diagram illustrates how a rain shadow desert is formed.

Overall, The formation of rain shadow desert is natural process consists of 7 stages begining with moist air from the sea and end with dry winds reaching the inland area eventually leading to the formation of a rain shadow desert.

Intially, the winds reaches the coastal area,which keeps on moving up with the slope of mountain , soaking the moisture from atomsphere which results in decreased temperature as a consequence, cooler air forms. Moist and cool air results in the formation the clouds when these clouds reaches the peak of mountain the phenomena of rain falls occur on the windward side of mountains. After rainfalls, the air losses its all the moisture and converts into the dry air which continues to move downwards on leeward side of mountains. The dry winds moving downwards eventually reaches the inland areas where rain shadow desert is formed,However it takes winds to travel thousands of kilometer while crossing mountains and reaching the inland regions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You give a clear overview of the process, identifying its seven stages and the movement from moist air near the sea to dry winds inland and the resulting desert. The main sequence is also covered: air rises over the mountains, cools, clouds form, rain falls on the windward side, and dry air descends on the leeward side. This addresses the key features of the diagram. Some details, however, are imprecise: the diagram shows winds approaching from the sea, rather than “moist air from the sea” as the starting stage, and “soaking the moisture from atmosphere” does not accurately explain the process. Clarify that rising air cools and loses moisture through rainfall, while the dry air continues inland.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview, and a chronological account of the stages. Sequencing expressions such as “Initially,” “when,” “After rainfalls,” and “eventually” help the reader follow the process. This gives the description a coherent overall progression. However, most of the detailed stages are packed into one long paragraph, and several links between ideas are awkward or unclear, particularly the transition from the air rising to “soaking the moisture.” The final sentence also combines the desert’s location with the distance travelled, making the relationship between these points less clear. Use shorter sentences and group the rising-and-rainfall stages separately from the descent inland.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a relevant range of process vocabulary, including “coastal area,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moisture,” and “inland regions.” These terms help describe the diagram, and the reader can generally understand the intended meaning. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “soaking the moisture from atmosphere,” “the air losses its all the moisture,” and “the phenomena of rain falls occur.” There are also spelling errors, including “begining,” “Intially,” and “kilometer.” Aim for precise process verbs and standard collocations: for example, air “rises,” “cools,” and “loses moisture,” while rain “falls.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, using clauses with “when,” “which,” and “while” to connect stages. However, control is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to follow. Examples include “the winds reaches,” “these clouds reaches,” and “the air losses,” where subject–verb agreement is incorrect. Articles and sentence construction also need attention: “is natural process” should include an article, and “the formation the clouds” is missing “of.” Punctuation is inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and a comma splice in “is formed,However.” Practise building shorter, accurate sentences first, then combine them with subordinate clauses.

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