Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-27

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 6.0)

Dear Amit,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing this letter because i cannot resist myself to inform you about that When i saw my picture was broken in my apartment when i was away from my home.

That picture was close to my heart because it was given by my father on my 23 rd birthday .The Frame displayed laughing buddha and its prominent for me because when i feel sad ,I see that picture and get motivation.

Could you please tell me how it was broken and i really appreciate that if you can fix that frame for me or you can buy a similar picture for me .It will be very helpful for me because i feel energetic and motivated when i see that picture in my tough time.

I hope we can resolve that matter soon.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards,

Sayam

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: describing the broken item, explaining its importance, and requesting a resolution. However, the tone is somewhat inconsistent and the opening is awkward, which impacts the overall communicative effect. While the ideas are relevant, the development is a bit repetitive, particularly regarding the emotional significance of the picture. To improve, ensure that the purpose of the letter is stated more clearly and professionally in the opening, and provide a more structured explanation for the request to ensure the tone remains friendly yet firm.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the narrative. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. For example, the transition between the description of the item and the request for action feels abrupt. There is a reliance on simple conjunctions, and the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'in light of this'). The paragraphing is appropriate for a letter format, but the internal cohesion needs more sophistication to reach a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision expected at higher levels. Phrases like 'cannot resist myself to inform you' are unnatural and indicate a lack of idiomatic control. While you successfully use words like 'prominent' and 'motivated', there are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as using 'picture' to refer to a framed object, where 'photograph' or 'framed print' might be more precise. To improve, focus on learning collocations and more natural phrasing for formal or semi-formal correspondence.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. You have frequent errors with articles ('the' vs 'a'), capitalization ('i' instead of 'I'), and verb tense consistency. For instance, 'When i saw my picture was broken' is grammatically awkward. Additionally, there are punctuation errors, such as the space before the period in 'birthday .The'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to distract the reader. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for minor slips will significantly improve your score.

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

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