Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Predictions Nov 2026 · 2026-11-08
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
You have noticed that a streetlight near your home is not working. The local council looks after the streetlights in your area. Write a letter to the local council.
Write a letter to the local council. In your letter
- say exactly where the streetlight is and what is wrong with it
- describe how the problem affects people who use the street
- ask the council to get the light fixed
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,
Student answer (Band 6.0)
Dear Sir,
I am writing this letter to inform you about a problem of streetlight near my home is not working anymore and individuals are facing various problems because of this.
Firstly, I would like to let you know that streetlight is located at the right side of my home. While I was crossing the street in the morning I noticed that the light was not turning green due to this I waited for so long and got late for my work. Even in the night time individuals driving their cars face accidents because of the light.
Furthermore, I want to ask the local council to fix the light as soon as possible. It will make convient for the individuals living nearby the streetlight and will also reduce the risk of accidents. I would really aprreciate it if you could resolve this isuue.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
Ayush Bhardwaj
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
The letter addresses the main purpose and includes the requested action: you report a faulty streetlight, explain that it creates safety concerns, and ask the council to repair it promptly. The reference to its position “at the right side of my home” gives some location information, while the risk of accidents is relevant. However, the location is not exact enough for the council to identify the lamp, and the description of the problem is unclear: “not turning green” sounds like a traffic signal rather than a streetlight that has stopped working. The effects are also unevenly explained, since the delay to your morning journey is difficult to connect to a streetlight. Give a precise landmark and describe the darkness and its consequences directly.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The message has a recognisable letter structure, with an opening, two body paragraphs, a request, and a polite closing. “Firstly” and “Furthermore” help signal the progression from describing the issue to requesting action, and the reader can follow the overall purpose. Some connections between ideas are less clear, however. In the first body paragraph, the account of crossing the street, waiting, and being late does not clearly explain how the faulty light caused the delay. The sentence about drivers and accidents is also awkwardly connected to the preceding point. Use clearer sequencing and refer back to the streetlight explicitly—for example, explain that poor visibility at night makes it harder for drivers and pedestrians to see one another.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use enough vocabulary to communicate the general concern and request, including “risk of accidents,” “as soon as possible,” and “resolve this issue.” However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, which sometimes makes the situation harder to understand. “The light was not turning green” is unsuitable for a streetlight and suggests a traffic signal; “the streetlight had gone out” would be clearer. “Individuals” is repeated and sounds overly formal in this context, while “convenient” does not express the intended benefit as naturally as “safer.” There are also spelling errors in “convenient,” “appreciate,” and “issue.” Aim for precise, natural wording and check spelling before submitting.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The letter includes both simple statements and attempts at longer sentences, such as “I would really appreciate it if you could resolve this issue.” The overall meaning is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors remain. The opening sentence has an incomplete construction: “a problem of streetlight near my home is not working” should be recast, for example, as “a streetlight near my home is not working.” Articles are also missing in “the streetlight” and “at the right side of my home,” and the sentence beginning “While I was crossing” does not clearly connect the event to the light. There is also an extra space in “cars face.” Use a wider range of sentence patterns while checking articles, clause links, and punctuation.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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