Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-08
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)
I hope you are doing well. Since you are considering to apply in Big Data Program at Simon Fraser University, I have few suggestions for you.
The Big Data course is among the most reputated course within Canada. It is 16 to 20 months long Master's degree, depending on the the internship you take. The course is curated specifically for students who want to succeed in the professional corporate environment because it has mandotary internship semester.
Personally, I suggest you to take admission here because of supportive advisors and the faculty. They all have flexible office hours that makes it easier for students to seek support whenever they need it. The university has various student clubs that you can join according to your interests like dancing, music, hiking and many more. I made many friends by attending the events that these clubs host.
The quickest way to apply is by making a "Future Students Account" and uploading your supporting documents on the portal. You can also contact the university's office if you have any inquiries.
I hope this was useful. I am excited to hear back about your decision regarding your studies.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points: it provides details about the Big Data program, explains why the university is recommended, and offers clear advice on the application process. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and the purpose is clear throughout. The ideas are relevant and sufficiently developed to meet the task requirements. To reach a higher band, you could provide slightly more specific detail about the 'Big Data' curriculum itself or offer a more personal anecdote about the application process to further extend your ideas.
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 topics. Cohesive devices such as 'Since', 'Personally', and 'The quickest way' are used to guide the reader through the text. The flow is natural and easy to follow. To improve, ensure that transitions between sentences are varied; currently, some sentences start with similar structures, which makes the progression feel slightly mechanical at times.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'curated', 'mandatory', and 'inquiries'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'reputated course' (should be 'reputable' or 'well-regarded') and 'take admission' (should be 'apply' or 'enroll'). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more precise control over collocations. Expanding your vocabulary to include more idiomatic expressions or precise academic terminology would help elevate your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The letter uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'considering to apply in' (should be 'considering applying to'), 'I have few suggestions' (should be 'a few'), and 'the the' (a repetition error). Additionally, 'makes it easier' should be 'make it easier' to agree with the plural subject 'hours'. While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding your message. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences will help improve your score in this criterion.
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.