Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-18

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 Kuda,

Hope I find you well. I noticed that my watch have been broken during your stay in my house. It is the white one that you see on entrance sitting on the radiator cover. The brand of this watch is Smeg.

The watch was a farewell gift from my previous employment. It holds a sentimental value because it always reminds me the best moments shared with my colleagues during my working period. In addition I used that clock for alarm. Since I came back I have been struggling to wake up in time to get ready for work. This has been affecting me since I am not used to be late at work.

I would be happy if you get me another clock. Please note that I am not expecting you to buy me the exact one. All I want is a watch that will replace this one so that I will not be late at work.

Looking foward to hear from you soon.

Kinds regards,

Ruth

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three required points clearly. You identify the possession as a white Smeg watch, explain its sentimental value as a farewell gift and its practical use as an alarm, and make a specific request for your friend to replace it with another clock. The explanation of its importance is supported by the effect on your work routine, so your purpose remains clear throughout. The request is polite and appropriately allows that the replacement need not be identical. To strengthen the response further, clarify whether you believe your friend broke it and what action you expect beyond buying a replacement; this would make the circumstances and requested responsibility more explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information is arranged in a clear sequence: you introduce the damage, explain the watch’s personal and practical importance, and then state what you would like your friend to do. Separate paragraphs help the reader follow these stages, while links such as “In addition” and “Since I came back” show how the ideas relate. The closing also suits the friendly letter format. Some connections could be smoother: the move from the sentimental value to the alarm function is understandable but abrupt, and “Since I came back” could be linked more directly to the request for a replacement. Overall, the progression is logical; more natural transitions and clearer reference to the damaged item would make cohesion less noticeable.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the situation and its emotional significance, including “farewell gift,” “sentimental value,” and “replace.” These choices help distinguish the watch’s personal importance from its practical use. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise: “on entrance” is unclear, “working period” sounds unnatural, and “get me another clock” does not clearly distinguish a watch from a clock. There are also spelling errors in “foward” and “Kinds.” Aim for more natural phrases such as “by the entrance,” “time at work,” and “buy me a replacement watch.” This would improve precision and control while retaining the clear, accessible style.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The letter includes a mix of simple statements and longer sentences, such as the explanation that the gift reminds you of moments with colleagues and the sentence describing how the broken alarm affects your mornings. Meaning is generally clear, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “my watch have been broken” has incorrect subject–verb agreement and verb form; “I used that clock for alarm” needs an article and a more suitable construction; and “I am not used to be late” should use a gerund after “used to.” The opening “Hope I find you well” also omits the expected subject. Check agreement, articles, and verb patterns, and vary sentence structures more accurately to improve control.

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