Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-23

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 6.0)

Dear Oneil,

How have you been? It feels like ages since we last spoke. I am writing to let you know that I am planning a business trip for one week in your city the following month on 7th November.

To begin with, recently I got promoted to Senior sales manager position in my company, and our supervisor selected me to attend a business meeting in Shimla, as I have excellent interpersonal skills. Although I am visiting your city from business purposes, I will be completely free in evenings as meetings are usually going to be happen in mornings from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. It would be really wonderful if we get an opportunity to spend that time together.

In the evenings, if you are not busy we will rover around the city and try some traditional cuisines from the local shops. Additionally, if you don't mind you can come and stay with me in my hotel, as i booked double room for my stay. Therefore, this way both could spend quality time with each other while watching movies and enjoying drinks.

Please let me know your plans during my stay in your city.

Hope to see you soon.

Best wishes,

Rashim

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You cover the main requirements: you explain that the visit is for a business meeting, ask indirectly about evening activities, and invite your friend to spend time with you. The promotion and meeting schedule provide useful context. However, the request for recommendations is not very explicit: “we will rover around the city” suggests a plan, but does not clearly ask what your friend recommends seeing or doing. The invitation is also somewhat unclear because staying in your hotel is presented as an option, while the main shared activity is only broadly described. Develop these points more directly—for example, ask about a particular attraction or local event and propose a specific evening together.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a clear overall shape, moving from a friendly opening and trip details to evening plans and a closing. Paragraphing helps separate the background from the invitation, and phrases such as “To begin with” and “Additionally” signal relationships between ideas. Some connections are less smooth or precise, however. “Therefore, this way” repeats the same linking function, and the paragraph shifts quickly from sightseeing and food to staying in the hotel and watching movies. The request for advice is also not clearly separated from your own proposed plans. Use fewer, more natural transitions and organise the letter so the purpose, request for recommendations, and invitation each have a distinct focus.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range for a friendly letter, including phrases such as “got promoted,” “interpersonal skills,” “traditional cuisines,” and “spend quality time.” These help communicate the business context and your plans. Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, though: “rover around” does not express the intended activity, “from business purposes” is awkward, and “traditional cuisines from the local shops” is not a natural way to describe trying local food. “One week” and “the following month” also leave the timing less precise than it could be. Choose familiar, accurate expressions rather than forcing less natural combinations, and use specific vocabulary for sightseeing and local food.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

There is a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including the sentence beginning “Although I am visiting your city…” and the conditional invitation “if you are not busy.” The message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors occur. For example, “are usually going to be happen” has an incorrect verb construction; “a Senior sales manager position” needs a more accurate article and structure; and “both could spend” is missing a clear subject. There are also inconsistent capitalisation and punctuation choices, such as “i” and “a.m to 3 p.m.” Review verb forms, articles, and sentence construction, then proofread for consistent capital letters and punctuation.

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

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