Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-06

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 Jim

Hope you are doing well. I pen down this letter to ask you about the broken lamp which I found when I returned from vacation.

The lamp which is broken was placed on the bed side. It is of golden colour and has two options of white and yellow light. It works on both electricity and on batteries. It consists of a black stand and umbrella like structure over it

This lamp is very special to me because it is gifted to me on my birthday by my sister. It has name of my sister and me engraved on it which reminds me of her love and affection.

I request you to please explain me the reason how that lamp was broken as money cannot replace the emotion which I felt with this possession.

Hope to hear from you soon

With Love

Gurpreet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three points: you describe the lamp, explain its sentimental value, and ask Jim to explain how it was broken. Details such as its two light settings and the engraving make the possession identifiable, while the connection to your sister explains why it matters. However, the request focuses on finding out what happened rather than clearly stating what you want Jim to do next; for example, you could ask him to arrange a repair or discuss replacing it. The importance of the lamp is relevant but could be developed further with a specific memory or explanation. The response is also five words below the required minimum, so add a little more detail to complete the task fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall progression: you introduce the broken lamp, describe it, explain its emotional significance, and then make a request. The separate paragraphs help the reader follow these stages, and the closing is appropriate for a friend. This meets the lower-band expectation of coherent overall arrangement. To show more of the next level, make the links between ideas smoother and ensure each paragraph has a clear focus. For instance, the description could be separated from the explanation of the lamp’s personal value, and the final paragraph could state a practical request directly. Some transitions are abrupt, and the opening moves straight into the issue without a more natural personal lead-in.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use enough vocabulary to describe the object and its personal meaning, including “golden colour,” “engraved,” and “love and affection.” These choices communicate the main ideas, and the reader can understand the letter. There are also some inaccurate or unnatural expressions, such as “I pen down this letter,” “two options of white and yellow light,” and “explain me the reason.” More natural collocations would make the message sound fluent and appropriate for a friendly letter. Aim to choose precise everyday wording rather than translating expressions directly. For example, describe the lamp as having “two light settings,” and say that you are writing to “ask what happened.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple sentences and longer structures, including the explanation that the engraving “reminds me of her love and affection.” Most of the message remains understandable, which shows a workable level of grammatical control. Some errors occur in sentence construction and punctuation, however. In “It consists of a black stand and umbrella like structure over it,” the article before “umbrella-like structure” is missing, and the sentence needs a full stop. “It has name of my sister and me engraved on it” also needs an article before “name.” Review articles and sentence boundaries, and practise combining details into complete, accurately punctuated sentences.

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

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