Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-16

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 Rajdeep,

How are you doing? I am doing good here after my trip. My purpose of writing this was to inquire if you have any idea about broken clock. It is a valuable possession which was passed down by multiple generations in my family.

This wooden clock was placed on the dinning table, little delicate and ancient carvings which says "RAM" in the middle. The hands of the clock are not moving even after recoiling it.

Not only the clock holds family pride but also it was the last present given by my grandfather to me. That is why I am asking upfront to you because you stayed at my apartment when I was away. Also, I am not blamming you, just inquiring.

If you knew about this, I will truely appriciate if you tell me at the earliest possible convinence and also help me find a person who know how to fix old clocks like this.

Warm regards,

Kirat

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The letter covers all three required points: you identify the wooden clock, explain its family history and personal significance, and ask your friend to share information and help find a repairer. The detail that it was your grandfather’s last present gives the explanation a clear personal reason. Your tone is also considerate, especially in “I am not blaming you, just inquiring.” However, the request is somewhat indirect: “If you knew about this” does not clearly ask your friend to take a specific action or offer to cover repair costs. Develop this final point more explicitly, for example by asking them to arrange an assessment or contribute to the repair if they caused the damage. This would make the purpose and requested outcome more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information follows a sensible order: you open with the reason for writing, describe the clock, explain its importance, and then make a request. Paragraph breaks help distinguish these stages, and links such as “That is why” make the relationship between the clock’s significance and your inquiry clear. Some connections are less smooth, however. “My purpose of writing this was to inquire if you have any idea about broken clock” is an awkward opening, and “Also, I am not blaming you” interrupts the explanation before the request. The final sentence combines asking for information with finding a repairer, so the requested actions are not sharply separated. Use a more direct opening and organise the final paragraph around one clear request followed by any supporting detail.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant descriptive vocabulary, including “wooden clock,” “delicate,” “ancient carvings,” and “family pride,” which helps convey the object’s character and value. The range is adequate for the letter, but several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “doing good,” “inquire if you have any idea about broken clock,” and “recoiling it” for winding a clock. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “dinning,” “blamming,” “truely,” “appriciate,” and “convinence.” These do not prevent the reader from understanding the main message, but they reduce precision and polish. Check spelling carefully and learn natural phrases for describing damage, asking about an incident, and requesting a repair.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The letter includes both simple sentences and attempts at more complex structures, such as “Not only the clock holds family pride but also it was the last present given by my grandfather to me.” The main message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors affect accuracy. For example, “which says ‘RAM’” does not agree with the plural “carvings,” and “If you knew about this, I will truly appreciate” mixes conditional forms. The opening phrase “My purpose of writing this was to inquire” is also awkwardly constructed, while “a person who know” has a subject–verb agreement error. Aim for more reliable sentence patterns, such as “If you know anything about what happened, I would appreciate it if you let me know.” Proofreading agreement and conditional forms would improve control.

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

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