Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-07
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 John,
I hope you are well! I received your letter seeking advice about your camping holiday in Switzeland for a summer vacation. Honestly, this is such a great idea. There are lots of valleys and alps that has amazing scenery, and I am sure you would love the vacation. It is a great way to take your mind of work pressure and relax your body.
However, be careful during this trip. This is because there are wild animals such as snakes and bears. Secondly, although it is during the summer, it can get very cold at night. For this reason, you can get sick easily. Trust me when I say that I have my own personal experience.
Personally, I do not mind joining you for this trip, since I can free up my work schedule during the summer holiday. Moreover, I can be of great help since I am experienced when it has to do with camping.
I hope to see you soon!
Kind regards,
Roland.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
You address all three points: you explain that the scenery and chance to relax may appeal to John, mention risks from wildlife and cold nights, and clearly say you are willing to join him. The friendly tone and personal reference to your camping experience suit a letter to a friend. The explanation of enjoyment is relevant but fairly general, and the disadvantages are listed rather than explored; for example, you could explain how to prepare for cold weather or avoid wildlife. Your willingness to go is clear, but adding a specific suggestion about planning the trip together would make the response more fully developed.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0
The letter is organised into clear paragraphs that follow the task’s sequence: reasons to enjoy camping, possible drawbacks, and your decision about joining. Linking expressions such as “However,” “Secondly,” and “Moreover” help readers follow the progression, while the opening and closing maintain the letter format. The ideas connect logically overall. To make the flow more natural and less dependent on signposting, vary how you link related points and develop transitions between them. For instance, the move from cold nights to getting sick could be explained more smoothly, and “Trust me when I say that I have my own personal experience” could lead directly into a brief detail about that experience.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
Your vocabulary is adequate for the topic and includes relevant expressions such as “amazing scenery,” “work pressure,” “wild animals,” and “free up my work schedule.” These choices make your meaning clear, and you attempt some less common language. However, several phrases are imprecise or unnatural, including “take your mind of work pressure,” “relax your body,” and “when it has to do with camping.” There is also a spelling error in “Switzeland.” Aim for more natural collocations and precise wording, such as describing a break from work or saying you have experience with camping. These improvements would make the letter sound more fluent and idiomatic.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a reason clause (“This is because…”) and a concessive clause (“although it is during the summer”). Most sentences are easy to understand, and errors do not prevent communication. Some grammatical slips remain: in “valleys and alps that has,” the plural subject requires “have,” and “take your mind of” should use the phrasal verb “take your mind off.” The sentence “I can be of great help since I am experienced when it has to do with camping” is also awkwardly constructed. Review subject–verb agreement and build more natural clause patterns; accurate control of these forms would strengthen an otherwise clear response.
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