Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-14
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
A friend of yours is thinking of going on a camping holiday for the first time this summer. He/She has asked for your advice. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter
- explain why you think your friend would enjoy a camping holiday
- describe some possible disadvantages
- say whether you would like to go camping with your friend this summer
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ................. ,
Student answer (Band 6.5)
Dear Arun,
I hope you're doing well. I love the idea that you're making a plan to go on a camping holiday this summer.
I am writing to tell you that going camping will help you to get a break from your work and studies, and you can relax and will feel in the lap of nature, which will be beneficial for you for your mental as well as physical health.
However, there are some disadvantages too, like sometimes there is no internet on the campsite, which will disturb you, as I know you cannot live without your phone and you may also feel sick as it's your first trip away from home for many days.
Anyway, I am wondering if I could come with you, but I have other plans with family. I know you can handle everything as you are brave. So, enjoy your camping holidays; maybe we could meet up after your trip? Let me know what you think.
Well, that's all for now. I can't wait to hear from you about your plans for this trip.
Best wishes,
Gurchet.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt effectively. You explained the benefits of camping, identified relevant disadvantages, and clearly stated your inability to join the trip. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, maintaining a consistent informal register. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, providing a clear response to the task requirements. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly more on the 'why' behind the benefits, perhaps by mentioning specific activities like hiking or stargazing, which would add more depth to your personal recommendation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each bullet point, and a suitable closing. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Anyway', and 'So' to transition between ideas. While the flow is generally smooth, the paragraphing could be improved by separating the disadvantages and the final decision more distinctly. The referencing is clear, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow throughout the letter. Using a wider variety of linking words would further enhance the cohesion of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using phrases like 'in the lap of nature' and 'beneficial for your mental as well as physical health'. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication. However, the vocabulary is somewhat functional and lacks the 'less common' items that would push the score into the higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more precise adjectives or idiomatic expressions that sound more natural in a friendly letter, rather than relying on standard, everyday phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'I am writing to tell you that...' and 'I know you can handle everything as you are brave.' While there are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'I love the idea that you're making a plan' (which is slightly unnatural) and 'feel in the lap of nature' (should be 'feel at one with nature'), these do not impede meaning. The punctuation is generally accurate. To achieve a higher score, focus on increasing the variety of complex structures and ensuring greater precision in prepositional usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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