Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-09
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 6.0)
Dear Maria,
It's been a while since we last spoke, so I just wanted to give you a quick note regarding your academic career. As you about to start your university era and need my guidance, I try my best to show you the right one amicably.
I had stived hard in choosing my degree and see you struggling with the same. I know coping with such situation loses your mental capability. I recommend you pursue Pharm D from Punjab University and work hard to excel in your field. It has versatility in professional career, and you never leave you bare handed.
My university is the only government body providing facilities all over Punjab. It has the reputable list of graduated scholars acknowledging young minds with their academic excellence. Moreover, it provides stipend to merit based and needy ones.
You must keep checking on the official website for admission and further guidance. They have given the contact number as well for any query.
Looking forward to having a positive response from your side.
Yours faithfully,
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The letter addresses all three bullet points: it describes the Pharm D course, explains why the university is recommended, and provides advice on the application process. However, the development of these points is somewhat limited. For example, the explanation of the course is brief, and the advice on applying is quite generic. The tone is intended to be friendly, but the opening and closing are slightly awkward; using 'Yours faithfully' is incorrect for a letter to a friend, where 'Best wishes' or 'Yours sincerely' would be more appropriate. The response covers the requirements but lacks the depth and natural tone expected at higher bands.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, each focusing on a specific requirement of the prompt. There is a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the course details, university benefits, and finally the application advice. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly unnatural, such as 'It has versatility in professional career, and you never leave you bare handed.' While the paragraphing is sufficient, the transitions between sentences could be smoother to improve the overall flow and readability of the letter.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and natural collocation. Phrases like 'university era' and 'stived hard' (likely a typo for 'strived') are non-standard. The expression 'you never leave you bare handed' is an idiom used incorrectly. While the student attempts to use more academic vocabulary such as 'versatility' and 'academic excellence', the overall control is inconsistent. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on using more natural collocations and ensuring that word choices are appropriate for an informal letter to a friend.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'As you about to start' (missing verb), 'I try my best' (tense error), and 'It has the reputable list' (article usage). Subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are also inconsistent. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. More attention to basic sentence construction and proofreading for small grammatical slips is necessary.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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