Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-27

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You are planning a business trip to another city. You will have some free time to do some sightseeing while you are there.
 

Write a letter to a friend who lives in the city you will visit. In your letter:
• explain the purpose of the trip.
• ask about things to do and see in the city.
• invite your friend to do something with you during your visit.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ____

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear John,

Hope you are doing well !!

I am writing this letter to let you know that I am visiting your town this coming weekend.

I am coming to your city on the 2nd of next month for an urgent event conducted by my company. The duration of the event is too short, so I am thinking that I will meet you after the completion of my event.

After that, there are a lot of fun activities I have planned. I think you suggest me better, that what should I explore in your town. The famous markets, the local cuisine and there are plenty of things to do because I have enough time to explore your city.

Also, why don't you join me if you are free after work? It has been so long since we met after our college days. We will party in that famous club that you told me about on the call last month. It should be a great time with you, so don't forget to catch me on that day.

See you soon.

Yours loving friend,

William

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained the purpose of your trip (an urgent company event), asked for recommendations regarding local sights and cuisine, and extended a warm invitation to your friend to meet up. The tone is appropriately informal and friendly, fitting for a letter to a friend. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring the reader understands the context of your visit and your expectations for the trip. You have fully satisfied the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs covering the specific requirements, and a closing. Each paragraph focuses on a distinct aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your train of thought. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'After that' and 'Also', to transition between ideas. However, the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect sentences more fluidly. Overall, the message is easy to follow, and the paragraphing is appropriate for a personal letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task. You use phrases like 'urgent event', 'local cuisine', and 'explore your city' effectively. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it is somewhat basic. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise or descriptive language, such as 'sightseeing', 'recommendations', or 'catch up'. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication, and the tone remains consistent throughout the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While most of your sentences are clear, there are some minor grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'I think you suggest me better, that what should I explore' which is slightly awkward; a more natural phrasing would be 'I would appreciate your recommendations on what to explore.' Additionally, 'It has been so long since we met after our college days' is slightly redundant. Despite these minor issues, your meaning is always clear, and your control of basic grammar is solid.

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

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