Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-09

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 Manpreet,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing this letter about my laptop which I have found in a broken condition.

Firstly, I would like to thank you for staying at my place and taking care of my valuable possessions in my absence. However, I would like to share that I have discovered my laptop in a damaged condition. The screen is broken and the laptop is not turning on either. I am concerned that what if it will not work again.

I have stored all my urgent documents and presenations in it. Moreover, my brother has given this laptop to me as a gift on my 25th birthday. Thus, this laptop has a sentimental value for me.

It would be great if you could get repairs done to my laptop. I would really appreciate it. Hoping to hear back from you.

Regards,

Iqbal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address all three required points: you identify the laptop and its damage, explain its practical and sentimental importance, and ask Manpreet to arrange repairs. The details that the screen is broken and the laptop will not turn on make the problem clear, while the birthday gift from your brother gives a personal reason for valuing it. However, the request is brief and does not clarify whether you expect your friend to pay for the repair or discuss the cost with you. The explanation of the documents is also only briefly developed. The response is 3 words below the required minimum, so add a little relevant detail, such as how you would like to handle the repair estimate.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter has a clear progression: you introduce the reason for writing, describe the damage, explain the laptop’s importance, and make a request. Paragraphing supports this sequence, and linking expressions such as “Firstly,” “Moreover,” and “Thus” help show how the ideas relate. The opening and closing are appropriate for a friendly letter. To make the flow more natural, avoid relying on formulaic transitions and connect related details more smoothly—for example, the laptop’s practical and sentimental importance could be explained together. The final request could also lead into a specific next step, such as asking your friend to contact you before authorising a repair.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for the situation, and phrases such as “valuable possessions,” “damaged condition,” and “sentimental value” communicate the main ideas clearly. You also use relevant terms such as “screen,” “documents,” and “repairs.” However, some expressions are repetitive or not quite natural: “broken condition” and “damaged condition” convey nearly the same idea, while “get repairs done to my laptop” is awkward. There is also a spelling error in “presenations.” More precise and natural collocations would make the letter sound more fluent and personal. Aim to vary the wording for the damage and use a direct phrase for arranging a repair.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple sentences and more developed structures, including “I would like to thank you for staying at my place” and the sentence explaining that your brother gave you the laptop as a gift. Most of the message remains easy to understand, and the past-tense account is generally clear. Some grammatical choices need attention, however. In “I am concerned that what if it will not work again,” the clause structure is faulty; write, for example, “I am concerned that it may not work again.” The phrase “I have found in a broken condition” is also awkwardly constructed; “I found it broken” is more direct. Greater control of embedded clauses would strengthen the range and accuracy.

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