Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-05

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You live in a small apartment building. You are frequently bothered by noise from your upstairs neighbour's apartment.

Write a letter to your neighbour. In your letter
• describe the situation.
• explain why it is a problem for you.
• suggest a solution.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear _________,

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear Anamika,

How are you doing?

I am Simrat, and I live in the same building, Saddlestone 2000. My apartment number is 25. You live upstairs to it.

I am writing this letter to request that if you could manage to reduce noises especially in the night. I can understand that you have two children, and it is hard to control them when they play with each other. Actually, I am preparing for a test and have to go to the coaching centre at 7 am. Because of the noise from your apartment, I can not sleep. Bad sleep makes me a bad learner since it becomes hard for me to concentrate on my test.

This situation has forced me to write; otherwise, I would not ever say or stop children playing.

I came up with a solution to reduce the noise: changing the bedtime or playtime of children. Or maybe giving them some sitting play material like squishy toys, board games or books.

I hope you would not mind this and take this as a request rather than a complaint.

I hope to hear back from you soon if you like my idea.

Love to kids,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points: the situation is described, the impact on your studies is explained, and practical solutions are offered. The tone is appropriate for a neighbourly request, maintaining a polite and constructive stance throughout. The ideas are well-developed, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. To reach a higher band, ensure that the opening and closing are more standard for a formal or semi-formal letter, as the current structure feels slightly informal for a written request to a neighbour you may not know well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized, with a clear progression from the introduction to the problem, and finally the proposed solution. Paragraphing is used, though the paragraphs are quite short. The use of cohesive devices is somewhat basic (e.g., 'Actually', 'Because of', 'This situation'). To improve, try to use a wider range of linking words to connect sentences more fluidly, such as 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'in light of this'. The referencing is generally clear, and the reader can easily follow the sequence of your thoughts.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'coaching centre' and 'sitting play material' are functional, though some word choices are slightly unnatural, such as 'bad learner' or 'noises especially in the night'. To improve, focus on more precise collocations. For example, instead of 'reduce noises', 'minimize the noise' is more natural. You demonstrate an ability to use topic-specific vocabulary related to the situation, which is a strength, but you should aim for more sophisticated phrasing to move into the higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'You live upstairs to it' (should be 'above me') and 'I hope you would not mind' (should be 'I hope you will not mind'). Additionally, there are minor issues with article usage and preposition placement. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed with accurate tense usage, particularly when discussing future solutions or hypothetical scenarios.

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

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