Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-19

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 Alex,

Hope you are doing well. I am writing a letter to inform you that when I returned from trip I saw my watch was broken into small pieces on the floor.

Firstly, thank you so much for staying at my apartment and took the responsibility of my place. Unfortunately, the watch which was broken made me sad because my dad gave me on my last birthday and it is branded and expensive watch.

This watch was so close my heart and I always wear during my workout and school time. Moreover, it is im;portant part of my life and it provides me the detail about the daily steps. heart beat and body temperaure. I believe that this item made my life more easy and relaxed.

I understand its not your fault I forget to took this watch with my trip. If you do not mind I just need your help regarding to find same brand by online. As you know, I am not great to use digital devices or online shopping. Please when you get a chance send the pictures of same style of watches so that I can buy new one.

I really appreciate if you can help in selecting a new watch.

Yours lovely

Sandeep

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three points clearly: you identify the broken item as a watch, explain its sentimental and practical value, and ask Alex to help find a replacement online. The details about your father giving it to you and its step and health-tracking functions make the explanation relevant and personal. Your request is also clear: you want pictures of similar watches so you can choose one. To strengthen the response further, develop the requested action more precisely—for example, clarify whether you expect Alex only to send options or also to help with the purchase. The tone is generally considerate, especially when you say you understand it was not your friend’s fault, though a more natural closing would make the letter feel more polished.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall progression: it introduces the problem, explains the watch’s importance, and then makes a request. Paragraphing supports these stages, and linking expressions such as “Moreover” and “As you know” help connect related points. This gives the reader a coherent route through the message. Some connections are less smooth, however: “Firstly” suggests a sequence of points that is not continued, and the shift from thanking Alex to describing the damage could be more naturally linked. The final two paragraphs also repeat the request for help. To make the organisation more flexible and cohesive, combine the repeated request and use transitions that reflect the relationship between ideas rather than adding them mechanically.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the situation and its personal significance, including “valuable,” “branded,” “daily steps,” and “body temperature.” The language is generally understandable, but several word choices and collocations are noticeably unnatural or inaccurate, such as “close my heart,” “made my life more easy,” and “find same brand by online.” There are also spelling slips, including “im;portant” and “temperatue,” which reduce accuracy. These issues keep the vocabulary from sounding consistently natural, even though the intended meaning is usually clear. Work on common collocations and precise phrasing: for example, say the watch is “close to my heart,” that it “makes my life easier,” and ask for help “finding the same brand online.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including the explanation beginning “I understand its not your fault” and the conditional request “If you do not mind.” The main message remains understandable, but errors in verb forms, articles, prepositions, and sentence construction occur across the letter. Examples include “when I returned from trip,” “thank you … for staying … and took the responsibility,” and “I forget to took this watch.” These patterns show that complex ideas are being attempted, but control is not yet consistent. Practise accurate past-tense forms and verb patterns, such as “thank you for staying” and “I forgot to take,” and check articles and prepositions in phrases like “from my trip” and “an important part of my life.”

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

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