Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-29

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 Mr. Smith,

I am resident of apartment 407 and I am writing to complain about the loud noises from inside of your apartment. I am noticing from a month, every day till midnight the high volume of music and television is making it really hard for me to sleep properly. Therefore, my whole lifestyle is getting disturbed.

Let me explain in detail. I have to wake up for early morning shift but voice of loud music is intolerable till 12 a.m. So, I am unable to sleep which effects my focus on my work and also, effecting my productivity negatively. Due to unbearable sounds from your place, I feel exhausted throughout my shift.

I would like to suggest to lower the music volume during weekdays, especially during nighttime. Otherwise, I have to report this issue to the management of building. I hope you will not disappoint me and will understand my situation favorably.

Thanks for your understanding.

Yours faithfully,

Mani

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The candidate successfully covers all three bullet points required by the prompt. First, the situation is clearly described, identifying the exact location as 'apartment 407' and pinpointing the issue as loud noises from the upstairs neighbour. Second, the problem is explained effectively by detailing how late-night music and television until midnight impede sleep, leading to exhaustion and a negative impact on work productivity. Third, a clear and logical solution is suggested, namely to lower the music volume during weekdays, with a consequence provided if the issue persists. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter to a neighbour, maintaining clarity and relevance throughout. The requirements of the task are fully satisfied, earning a solid Band 7.0 for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter exhibits a clear overall structure with an appropriate beginning and polite sign-off. Ideas are logically organised into paragraphs, moving smoothly from describing the situation and its impact to offering a solution and a warning. Cohesive devices are used adequately, such as 'Therefore', 'Let me explain in detail', and 'Otherwise', which help guide the reader through the text. However, paragraphing could be slightly more polished, and some transitions feel a bit mechanical. Overall, the organisation and progression are clear throughout, fulfilling the descriptors for Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate and appropriate for the task, allowing the writer to communicate their message clearly. Phrases such as 'exhausted throughout my shift', 'productivity negatively', and 'unbearable sounds' demonstrate a sufficient range for flexibility and precision. However, there are some minor lexical and collocational inaccuracies, such as 'I am resident of' (missing article 'a') and 'voice of loud music' (where 'sound' or 'volume' would be more natural). Despite these occasional slips, the vocabulary is more than sufficient to convey the intended meaning without impeding communication, fitting comfortably into Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at complex structures such as 'I have to wake up for early morning shift but voice of loud music is intolerable till 12 a.m.' However, there are several grammatical errors present, particularly with articles, prepositions, and verb tenses. For instance, 'I am resident' lacks an article, 'I am noticing from a month' should be 'I have been noticing for a month', and 'Otherwise, I have to report' would be better expressed as 'Otherwise, I will have to report'. There are also tense errors, such as 'is also, effecting my productivity negatively' (affecting). While these errors do not impede communication, their frequency prevents the grammar score from reaching Band 6.5 or higher. Therefore, a Band 6.0 is awarded.

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