Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-11-03
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 Khushi,
I hope you are doing well. I am writing this letter in response to your request for advice about studying History at the university. I would be grateful to help you in this matter.
To begin with, I would like to give you some important details about the course. It is called Indian history and lasts for about 2 years. It talks about history of the Indian subcontinent from about 10th century to 21st century.
I would recommend you this university because it is the most recognized educational institution of our city. It is just 5 Kilometers from your house, so it will be more convenient for you to commute.
It is my suggestion that you should visit the premises to check out the university atmosphere. You can visit the admissions desk for applying for the course.
I hope to hear from you soon. Please let me know what you think.
Best wishes,
Dilpreet Singh
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 requested points and maintain an appropriate, friendly letter format. The course is identified as Indian history, with its duration and historical scope, and you give two reasons for recommending the university: its reputation and its proximity to Khushi’s home. You also offer application advice by suggesting a campus visit and asking at the admissions desk. These details make the response relevant, but some points are only briefly developed. For example, the course description could explain what studying it involves, while the application advice would be more useful if it mentioned checking entry requirements, deadlines, or required documents. The main information is clear, with some further development needed for a fuller response.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0
The letter is organised clearly, with separate paragraphs for the course, the reasons for recommending the university, and application advice. This gives the reader a logical progression through the task, and the opening and closing are appropriate for a friend. Linking phrases such as “To begin with” and “I hope to hear from you soon” help signal the structure. The paragraph transitions are generally clear, although the sequence of ideas can feel somewhat formulaic because each section is introduced directly rather than connected more naturally. You could improve the flow by linking the university’s location to practical benefits, or by connecting the campus visit with the steps Khushi should take to apply.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
Your vocabulary is adequate for the purpose and includes relevant terms such as “subcontinent,” “recognized educational institution,” “commute,” and “admissions desk.” These choices help communicate the course details and practical advice. However, some phrasing is imprecise or not fully natural, including “I would recommend you this university,” “It talks about history,” and “visit the premises.” The repeated use of general words such as “course,” “university,” and “visit” also limits flexibility. Aim for more natural collocations and precise descriptions—for example, describe what the course “covers” and refer to visiting the “campus.” This would make the letter sound more fluent and idiomatic while preserving its friendly tone.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5
You use a mix of simple sentences and more developed structures, including “I am writing this letter in response to your request” and the sentence explaining that the university is close to Khushi’s house. Most of the message remains easy to understand, and punctuation and paragraphing are generally controlled. Some grammatical errors remain, however. In “I would recommend you this university,” the verb pattern should be “recommend this university to you.” In “It talks about history of the Indian subcontinent,” an article is needed before “history.” The sentence beginning “It is my suggestion that you should…” is also less natural than a direct recommendation. Practise accurate verb patterns and article use, while varying sentence structures beyond the repeated simple statements.
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