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 flow chart illustrates the process how a rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overall, it can be seen that there are seven distinct phase in the whole process. Starting with the wind approached at coast and ending with the dry winds crossing thousands of kilometers to reach an inland areas.

Looking at the chart in more detail, it is evident that air which is making at sea, reach at the coast and gardually this winds go upwards to a mountain. Then the air turn into moist and continously go up side. Next, clouds is made by the moist air, which is converted into rain at the peak of the mountain.

In the subsequent stage, rain is starting to falls downward and transformed into dry air and constantly fall down at the leeward side of the hill. Finally, the dry air converted into dry winds and reached an inland areas over a desert and the rain-shadow desert formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the process as a sequence and give a broad overview, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland areas. You also include the key stages of rising air, cloud formation, rainfall, and the transition to dry air. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the air does not “turn into moist”; rather, moist air rises and cools, leading to cloud formation and rain on the windward side. The final stage should make clear that dry winds continue over the mountain and reach the inland rain-shadow desert. The description addresses the main task, but several stages are not explained precisely, and the overview could better summarise how the mountain creates a dry area on its leeward side.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the stages. Sequencing expressions such as “Overall,” “Next,” “In the subsequent stage,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the process, and the stages are generally presented in the correct order. This gives the response a coherent progression. To make the organisation more effective, use transitions to show cause and effect, not only sequence—for example, explain that rising air cools, which causes clouds and rainfall, leaving drier air to cross the mountain. Some references, such as “this winds” and “the air,” are not always clear, and repeated use of “Then” or “Next” could be replaced with more varied linking.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “coast,” “moist air,” “clouds,” “leeward side,” and “rain-shadow desert,” so the topic is recognisable. There are also attempts at more specific wording, such as “converted into” and “distinct phase.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “air which is making at sea,” “air turn into moist,” and “rain is starting to falls.” Spelling errors such as “gardually” and “continously” also reduce precision. Aim for natural process descriptions, such as “moist air rises,” “rain falls,” and “dry air descends,” and check spelling and word forms carefully. This would make the account clearer and more precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, including a sequence of stages joined with “which” and “and.” The overall meaning can usually be followed, but grammatical errors occur across the response. For example, “there are seven distinct phase” needs plural agreement, while “the wind approached at coast” has an unsuitable tense and missing article. In “clouds is made,” the subject and verb do not agree, and “rain is starting to falls” combines verb forms incorrectly. Articles and plurals are also problematic in “an inland areas.” Practise accurate present-simple passive forms for processes, such as “clouds are formed” and “rain falls,” alongside correct subject–verb agreement. More reliable control of these patterns would improve clarity.

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

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