Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-24

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You let a friend stay at your apartment while you were away on a trip. When you returned home, you discovered that a valuable possession was broken.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter
• describe the broken possession.
• explain why it is important to you.
• explain what you would like your friend to do.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear _________,

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear Alex,

I hope you are doing well. Thank you for looking at my apartment while i was away. However, when i returned i saw that there was a broken watch. so i wanted to ask you about that.

I had left that watch beside my bed on the small table and when i returned back and check my bedroom i saw that watch was fallen down and the glass of watch was cracked. I am not that weather it can be repaired or not.

This watch was very important to me as my late grandfather has gifted me. It was i thing it was expensive also but rather that that i was close to my heart as it remined me about him whenever i wear it or see it. I got really upset by seeing it.

Can you please tell me happen actually happen to it? Could please help me to give its repair cost of it. Hopping to sort it soon.

Take Care

Harman

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: describing the watch, explaining its sentimental value, and requesting a resolution. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, although the directness of the request for money could be softened slightly to sound more natural. The ideas are relevant and clearly presented, fulfilling the requirements of the task. The purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning, and the reader is left in no doubt about the situation or the desired outcome. To improve, you could expand slightly on the specific details of the damage to provide a more vivid description.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each serving a distinct purpose. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, moving from the initial discovery to the explanation of the item's importance and finally to the request for action. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat basic and repetitive (e.g., 'and', 'when'). The transition between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words or phrases to create a smoother flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately, which helps the reader navigate the content effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your message clearly. You use some descriptive language such as 'valuable possession' and 'close to my heart'. However, there are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'looking at my apartment' (should be 'looking after') and 'reminded me about him' (should be 'reminded me of him'). Additionally, there are minor spelling and grammatical slips like 'i thing it was expensive' instead of 'I think'. Expanding your range of collocations would help elevate your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. Common issues include the misuse of articles (e.g., 'the glass of watch'), incorrect verb tenses or forms (e.g., 'remined me', 'happen actually happen'), and capitalization errors (e.g., 'i'). These errors are noticeable but do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, you should focus on subject-verb agreement, consistent use of articles, and proofreading for basic mechanical errors like capitalization.

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

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