Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Predictions Nov 2026 · 2026-11-09

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 6.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am Rejoy who is residing in 6003 50 street, writing this email to formally bring to your attention regarding a street light at the corner of 60 block and 50 street which is not working for last few nights.I doubt that the bulb in the light is damaged and it needs replacement.As you know 50 street is the busiest street in the neighbourhood and lot of people are using for their daily commuting.As well as the winter has already started it is become darker very early and if there is no street light in the road it can affect children and all of the road users.As a responsible citizen, it is my duty to inform the council about the non-working street light in my community.I hereby request you and the council to do immediate action to rectify the faulty street light as soon as possible to avoid any consequences it may arise as a result of this.

Regards,

Rejoy Thomas

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter addresses all three requirements clearly. It identifies the location as “the corner of 60 block and 50 street,” explains that the light has not worked for several nights, and asks the council to arrange a repair “as soon as possible.” The effects are also relevant: the street is busy, winter darkness comes early, and children and other road users may be affected. These points give the request a clear purpose and support it with practical reasons. To make the response more fully developed, explain the specific risks—for example, difficulty seeing pedestrians or increased danger for people crossing—rather than referring generally to “any consequences.” The content is otherwise focused and appropriate for a formal complaint letter.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The information follows a sensible order: you introduce yourself and the fault, describe the street and its users, explain the seasonal concern, and make a request. This gives the letter an overall coherent arrangement. However, nearly all the content is presented as one long paragraph, so the stages of the message are not visually distinct. Several links also feel mechanical, particularly “As well as” and “As a responsible citizen,” which do not connect the ideas smoothly. Use two or three paragraphs and clearer transitions, such as moving from the fault to its impact with “This is particularly concerning because…”. This would make the progression easier to follow and improve cohesion without changing the relevant content.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the purpose, including “formally bring to your attention,” “daily commuting,” “responsible citizen,” and “rectify.” These choices help establish a formal tone, and the meaning remains clear. Some phrases, however, are awkward or imprecise: “street light” is less standard as one word, “do immediate action” is not a natural collocation, and “any consequences it may arise” is unclear. Choose more natural expressions such as “streetlight,” “take immediate action,” and “any resulting accidents.” The phrase “a lot of people are using” could also be made more precise by naming pedestrians, drivers, or commuters. More accurate collocations would strengthen the formal style.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a reason clause beginning “As you know” and a conditional structure about the effects of darkness. However, some grammatical errors make the sentences less controlled. For example, “I am Rejoy who is residing …, writing this email” is an awkwardly constructed opening; “for last few nights” needs an article and a more suitable tense; and “it is become darker” has an incorrect verb form. The long sentences also need clearer punctuation, especially after “few nights” and before the request. Aim for shorter, complete sentences and check articles, verb forms, and clause structure. This will make your ideas easier to read while retaining some sentence variety.

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

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