Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-03

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 flowchart illustrates the formation of the desert, particularly the rain-shadow desert. Overall, seven steps are involved in the formation of rain shadow deserts. Starting winds from the sea, which brought humidity to the mountain and causes rain and then it continues and end on the other side of inland areas where winds get dry and make the rain shadow desert.

Initially, winds are approached on the coast. These winds are responsible to push the moist air upwards to the mountain front side and get cool down at the windward side. At this stage the clouds are formed.

After that the rain falls at the top of the mountain, while the other side of the mountain is dry . Then dry air continues over the mountain to the Leepward side and then these winds reach to the inland areas, which then make the rain shadow desert due to lack of precipitation and moisture. the wind doesn't come with any moisture on the other side which makes the other side dry and then it formed the rain shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence and give an overall account, noting that moist air rises, cools, forms clouds and produces rain before dry air crosses the mountains to the inland desert. This is relevant and broadly matches the diagram. However, some stages are less fully or precisely explained: the winds first approach the coast, then are forced upwards by the mountains, and the rain falls on the windward side. Your overview says the winds “make” the desert, but could more clearly explain that the leeward inland area becomes dry because the air has lost moisture. The reference to rain falling “at the top” is less exact than the diagram’s placement above the windward slope and peak. A clearer summary of these relationships would make the process more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by two paragraphs describing the stages. Sequencing expressions such as “Initially” and “After that” help the reader follow the process. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical, and the final paragraph repeats the same point: dry air reaches inland areas and creates the desert, followed by “the other side dry” and the desert forming again. Some references are also unclear, particularly “the other side,” which could mean the leeward slope or the inland area. Organise the stages in one continuous progression and avoid restating the outcome. More precise links between the loss of moisture, the leeward side and the desert would improve the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “windward side,” “clouds,” “precipitation” and “inland areas.” These terms help communicate the diagram’s main features, and the meaning is generally clear. Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise, however: “winds are approached,” “responsible to push,” and “get cool down” do not sound natural in this context. “Leepward” is also misspelled; the correct term is “leeward.” The repeated use of “dry” and “make” limits precision, especially when describing how the desert develops. Aim for accurate process verbs and collocations, such as “are forced upwards,” “cool,” and “result in a rain-shadow desert.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a relative clause in “the other side of inland areas where winds get dry” and a sequence linked with “while.” However, errors in verb forms and sentence construction are noticeable. For example, “winds are approached” uses an unsuitable passive form, while “which brought humidity … and causes rain” shifts tense and does not agree smoothly with the sentence. “These winds are responsible to push” also has an incorrect grammatical pattern, and the final sentence begins with lowercase “the.” There are some punctuation and spacing issues as well. Practise describing processes consistently in the present simple, and check verb patterns and sentence boundaries; this will make your meaning more controlled.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.