Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-08
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 Yash,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am sorry for not being able to keep in touch for a while, as I was dealing with some issues at work. I am happy to hear that finally you are going on your first camping trip this summer.
This trip is going to be a relief for you and your friends. The weather is perfect as well as you really need a break from your busy life. Camping in woods is different experience as you do stargazing and a day away from cell phones and internet.
Despite all the good stuff, there are some things you should know about staying in a forest area. Firstly, you will find it difficult to sleep in a tent, especially if you are sharing with someone. I would suggest you take a sleeping bag with you. Moreover, you may be able to get bug bites at night so don’t forget to get a bug spray with you. I am really hoping to join you on this trip but I’m stuck in a important project. If this project gets approved before your trip, i would love to join you guys and share my experience with you all.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Love,
Priyanka
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
The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly explain why your friend would enjoy camping, provide relevant disadvantages such as sleeping discomfort and insects, and state your availability for the trip. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and the purpose is clear throughout. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly more on the 'why'—for instance, by elaborating on the mental health benefits of nature or the specific appeal of the location—to ensure the ideas are fully developed rather than just mentioned.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each requirement, and a closing. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different points. You use some cohesive devices like 'Despite all the good stuff', 'Firstly', and 'Moreover' to guide the reader. However, the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that the transition between the benefits and the disadvantages is smoother. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using phrases like 'stargazing', 'bug bites', and 'keep in touch'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning, it is somewhat basic. To improve, try to incorporate more precise or descriptive language. For example, instead of 'good stuff', you could use 'advantages' or 'benefits'. There are no significant spelling errors, and the word choices are generally accurate, though they lack the sophistication required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'a important project' (should be 'an important project') and 'get a bug spray with you' (which is slightly unnatural; 'take' or 'bring' would be better). Additionally, there is a minor punctuation/capitalization error with the lowercase 'i' in the final paragraph. Despite these, the meaning is never obscured, and the errors are not frequent enough to impede communication. To improve, focus on article usage and refining your use of prepositions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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