Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-31

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 illustrate the formation a desert known as rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the process consist of 7 steps, which begins the wind approaching the coastal area and ends with dry wind reaching the in lands areas.

To begin, wind moves over a sea and approaches the coast in step 1. The following stage happens when the air oushes upwards and forms moist air that rises and cools, marking the end of stage 3. In the fourth stage, clouds form and the the mountains receives rain in stage 5. The side that has wind and rain, is referred to as, windward side.

whereas, stage 6 consist of dry air, that continues to flow over the mountains on its right side. This other side of the mountain is called the leeward side. The final step, seven, occurs when wind received from sixth step contiues to flow until it reaches areas caled the inland areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram as a process and give a clear overall account that it has seven stages, beginning with winds approaching the coast and ending with dry winds reaching inland areas. The main sequence is mostly represented, including rising and cooling air, cloud formation, rainfall, and dry air crossing the mountains. However, some stages are not described precisely: the air is pushed upwards before the moist air rises and cools, rather than this movement forming moist air, and the final stage should explicitly connect the dry winds with the rain-shadow desert inland. The windward and leeward sides are also mentioned, but their relationship to the sea and inland setting could be clearer. More accurate explanation of these features would make the account more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview, and a chronological description of the process. Sequencing phrases such as “To begin,” “The following stage,” and “The final step” help the reader follow the stages, and the paragraph break before the leeward-side description supports the shift in location. Some links are less smooth or precise: “marking the end of stage 3” interrupts the explanation, while “whereas” does not clearly express a contrast between the two sides. The reference to “the sixth step” is understandable but slightly awkward. To strengthen progression, group the windward stages together and then transition clearly to the dry air and desert on the leeward side.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “coastal area,” “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” and “inland areas,” which allows the main stages to be understood. There is also some useful variation in describing movement, such as “approaches,” “rises,” and “continues to flow.” However, several word-choice and spelling problems reduce precision: “in lands areas” and “areas caled the inland areas” are inaccurate or awkward, and “wind received from sixth step” is not a natural way to describe the dry winds continuing inland. “The mountains receives rain” also uses an unsuitable verb form in this context. Aim for concise, conventional process language, such as “dry air moves across the leeward side” and “a rain-shadow desert forms inland.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple sentences and more developed clauses, for example, “when the air … upwards” and “which begins … and ends …”. The sequence is generally understandable, but errors in agreement, articles, verb forms, and sentence construction are noticeable. Examples include “The diagram illustrate” and “the process consist,” where the verbs do not agree with their subjects, and “the mountains receives,” where the plural subject takes a singular verb. The overview also needs a clearer construction: “which begins the wind approaching” should be “which begins with the wind approaching.” In addition, the sentence beginning “whereas” is not properly integrated with the preceding sentence, and punctuation around “referred to as” is awkward. Check subject–verb agreement and build each stage with a complete, clearly linked clause.

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