Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-05
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 Karan,
I hope you are doing well. I writing this letter to advice you for the fitness journey which you are planning to start.
Since you asked me to suggest a suitable sport for you, after looking at your body type I think MMA is the best option for you. We personally know each other from childhood and keeping that in mind, I would motivate you to join Ji Jitsu or Wrestling classes as your mind and body are developed for it.
Once you join the classes, you will soon learn that not only it requires stamina and conditioning but the Mount Rushmore aspect discipline. This sport will forever keep you fit and healthy. Once learned, the mental peace of knowing that you can self defence in god forbid a brawl or any real life situation is a bonus.
I am also a beginner and in a need of sparring partner as well. I would suggest it would be best of both worlds that we train together and push each other to the limits. I am looking forward to hear from you and let me know if you have questions or doubts, I would be happy to clear the air out.
Best regards,
Harmanjot Singh.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You recommended MMA, explained how to learn it through classes, and proposed training together. The tone is appropriate for an email to a friend, and the purpose of the letter is clear throughout. To reach a higher band, ensure that your explanations are slightly more detailed; for example, you could have elaborated on how your friend might find a local gym or what specific equipment they might need to start. However, the response is well-focused and meets all requirements of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The email is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use paragraphing effectively to separate the different points of your advice. Cohesive devices such as 'Since you asked me', 'Once you join', and 'I am also' help the text flow smoothly. While the transition between the mention of 'Mount Rushmore' and the rest of the sentence is slightly confusing, the overall progression of ideas is easy to follow. The use of referencing is generally clear, and the letter maintains a consistent, friendly tone throughout.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, such as 'stamina', 'conditioning', and 'sparring partner'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'I writing this letter to advice you' should be 'I am writing this letter to advise you', and 'can self defence' should be 'can defend myself'. The phrase 'Mount Rushmore aspect' is used incorrectly in this context, which slightly impacts the clarity of your point. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise collocations would help elevate your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'I writing' (missing auxiliary verb), 'to advice' (confusing noun/verb forms), and 'in a need of' (incorrect article usage). Additionally, 'I am looking forward to hear from you' should be 'I am looking forward to hearing from you'. While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede the overall meaning of your message. Increasing your control over verb forms and prepositions will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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