Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-11-13

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

A friend of yours is thinking about applying for the same course that you did at university. He/She has asked for your advice about studying this subject. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter

• give details of the course you took at the university
• explain why you recommend the university
• give some advice about how to apply

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear .................. ,

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear Ryan,

I am pleased to know that you want to do the same course at a university that I did. I can help you with the preparation and applying for the subject which will make your experience at university smooth.

I took the Substance use and misuse course, Code 14221 at Trent University, Peterborough. It is mainly focused on the applications of theory in the field of Mental health and addictions. You will learn about how different factors associate with drug uses.

I would personally recommend this university as they focus on teaching practical applications of theories which will help you professionally. Furthermore, the university provides a free training with this course related to identifying drugs and how they impact an individual's mind and body.

When I was applying for this course, I visited the university personally but you can do it online and If you do it online the fee associated with it is less compared to offline. It is a 3 step form, if you want I can help you out with filling that form.

Please inform me when you get enrolled into this course, I can help you with nabigation through university.

Best Wishes,

Gaurav Kumar

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three requirements and maintains a friendly, helpful purpose. You identify the course and university, explain its practical focus, and recommend the training offered; you also give application advice by comparing in-person and online applications and offering help with the form. These details make the advice relevant and personal. The recommendation is supported, although the reasons could be developed further—for example, explain how the practical teaching or training benefited your own studies or career. The application guidance would also be clearer with one or two specific steps, such as where to find the form or what documents to prepare. Overall, the key ideas are clear and supported, with some tendency to state benefits generally.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information follows a clear, logical sequence: you introduce the topic, describe the course, explain why you recommend the university, and finish with application advice and an offer of help. Paragraphing supports this progression, and linking expressions such as “Furthermore” and “When I was applying” help connect related points. The letter also has an appropriate greeting and sign-off. To make the flow more polished, separate the application advice into its own paragraph and use clearer links between the online application comparison and the three-step form. The final offer to help with navigating the university could connect more smoothly to the earlier offer to assist with the application. Overall, the organisation is easy to follow, though some connections could be more flexible and precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a personal letter about university study, including relevant terms such as “practical applications,” “theories,” “addictions,” and “training.” These choices communicate the course content and your reasons for recommending it. There are, however, some inaccurate or awkward word choices and collocations, such as “applications of theory,” “drug uses,” and “nabigation through university.” “The fee associated with it” is also less natural than a more direct phrase. These issues do not prevent understanding, but they limit precision and naturalness. Aim to use familiar collocations accurately, and check spelling carefully, especially in the closing offer of help.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The letter includes a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “which will make your experience at university smooth” and a conditional structure in “if you want I can help you.” Most ideas remain understandable, but some grammatical and punctuation errors persist. For example, “a free training” needs a different article or an uncountable construction, and “If” is incorrectly capitalised after “and” in the application sentence. The sentence beginning “When I was applying” also joins several ideas with commas, making it less controlled. Review articles, sentence boundaries, and punctuation around conditional clauses. Greater accuracy in these areas would make your varied structures more effective.

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