Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-13

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Your English-speaking friend who lives in your town has asked for your advice about learning a new sport. Write an email to your friend. In your email:

• recommend a new sport that would be suitable for your friend to learn
• explain how your friend could learn this sport
• suggest that you both learn this sport together

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

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

 

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear Susan,

I hope you are doing well. It's been so long since we last met each other. Also, I found out that you are interested in learning new sports.

I have known you for several years and on the basis of that I would suggest you should learn Pickle ball. Firstly, it is an indoor and outdoor game. Secondly, this game doesn't require too many people, two people would be enough. Since you are already a champion in Badminton, this game will suit you perfectly well.

However, to learn the rules and regulations of this game we both can go to the coach in the area. Because I have heard he has experience and gives personal sessions as well. Since, I was also thinking about doing it in my leisure time. I will accompany you and we will learn something good together. This will be a great way to spend some quality time together.

I will look forward to your response.

Yours truly,

Sisa

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You recommend Pickleball, explain how to learn it through a local coach, and suggest learning it together. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend. The ideas are relevant and clearly presented, fulfilling the requirements of the prompt. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly on why Pickleball is specifically suitable for your friend beyond just mentioning their background in Badminton, perhaps by describing the social or physical benefits in more detail.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The email is logically organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your ideas easily. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'However' to link your thoughts. While the flow is generally good, some transitions feel a bit mechanical. To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words or phrases to connect sentences more naturally, rather than relying solely on list-like markers at the start of sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task. Phrases like 'leisure time', 'quality time', and 'rules and regulations' are used correctly. However, there are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'go to the coach in the area' (better: 'sign up for lessons with a local coach') and 'learn something good together' (which is slightly vague). Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise collocations related to sports and learning would help elevate your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are some grammatical errors, such as 'I found out that you are interested' (a bit informal/clunky) and 'Since, I was also thinking' (the comma after 'Since' is unnecessary). Additionally, 'Pickle ball' should be written as one word, 'Pickleball'. Your control of grammar is generally good, and these errors do not impede communication, but more consistent accuracy in punctuation and sentence construction would be beneficial.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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