Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-23

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 John,

I hope you are in good health and spirits. I am writing this letter to grab your attention about the old vase, which I placed near the Television stand. I gave you the key so that you can live and take care of my things but when I reached home then I saw that the vase is broken and the all pieces are on floor.

That vase hold an significant place in my heart because it was given by my grandmother and its the only thing I have from her. Whenever I miss her i just see that vase and feel like she is with me.

I know it was broken by mistake. I feel really disappointed that you did not told me about that. There nothing you and I can do to fix that but if you let me know earlier maybe i was not upset that much.

Your friend,

raman

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the main situation and explain both why the vase matters and how you feel about the damage. The detail that it came from your grandmother and is the only thing you have from her gives the letter a personal reason for its importance. However, the request to your friend is not clearly stated: you say there is nothing either of you can do, then focus on being upset that you were not told. The task asks what you would like your friend to do, so make this explicit—for example, ask them to apologise, explain what happened, or contribute towards a replacement or repair. The description of the vase is also quite limited, so adding a detail about its appearance would make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall sequence: you introduce the problem, explain the vase’s sentimental value, and then describe your reaction. The paragraph breaks help distinguish these points, and phrases such as “because” and “Whenever” show the relationship between ideas. This clear organisation is a strength. Some connections are less smooth, however: “but when I reached home then I saw” combines two linking words awkwardly, and the final paragraph moves from assuming it was an accident to saying you were not told without clearly stating what should happen next. Use simpler transitions and end with a direct request so the progression feels more purposeful and the reader can follow your intended outcome.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the situation and its emotional significance, including “valuable” in the task context, “disappointed,” and “the only thing I have from her.” The personal language makes the message understandable and appropriate in tone. However, some word choices and collocations are unnatural or imprecise, such as “grab your attention about,” “hold an significant place,” and “the all pieces are on floor.” These choices sometimes make the reader pause, even though the main meaning remains clear. Aim for more natural phrases such as “I wanted to let you know about,” “holds a special place in my heart,” and “the pieces were scattered on the floor.” Check spelling and capitalisation, including “TV” and “I.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including the explanation beginning “because it was given by my grandmother” and the conditional idea “if you let me know earlier.” This shows some range, and the main message can generally be understood. However, errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction are noticeable: “That vase hold,” “an significant place,” “you did not told me,” and “There nothing you and I can do” all need correction. The opening sentence also has an awkward sequence of clauses. Practise checking subject–verb agreement and verb forms after “did,” and use complete sentence patterns—for example, “There is nothing you and I can do to fix it.”

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

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