Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-13

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have a problem in your apartment that needs repairs.

Write a letter to the building manager. In your letter
• describe the problem.
• say what you think should be done about it.
• ask the building manager to visit your apartment to see the problem.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear _________,

Student answer (Band 6.0)

Dear sir,

I am writing to inform you about a problem in my apartment that requires urgent attention.

For the past week there is a serious water leakage from ceiling in my bedroom, Apartment 407. The water is dripping continuously and has already damaged the paint on the wall and the wooden furniture. I am worried that if it is not fixed soon, it could also cause an electrical problem and become a safety hazard.

In my opinion, a plumber should be sent as soon as possible to check the pipes and repair the source of the leakage.

I would be grateful if you could visit my apartment to inspect the problem yourself. I am available any day after 5 pm, so please let me know a convenient time for you.

I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours faithfully,

Ahmad

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have addressed all three bullet points: describing the problem, suggesting a solution, and requesting a visit. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a building manager. However, the response is 141 words, which falls short of the 150-word minimum requirement. This under-length impacts the development of your ideas, as the letter feels somewhat brief. To improve, you should expand on the impact of the leak or provide more specific details about your availability or the urgency of the situation to ensure you comfortably meet the word count requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task. You have used basic cohesive devices such as 'For the past week' and 'In my opinion' to link your ideas. However, the progression could be smoother with a wider variety of linking words. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the overall structure is easy to follow, which is a key requirement for this band level.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to communicate your message clearly, such as 'urgent attention', 'continuously', and 'safety hazard'. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise or less common collocations. For example, instead of 'electrical problem', you might use 'electrical fault' or 'wiring issues'. Your spelling is accurate throughout the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a good control of grammar with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is a minor error in the second sentence: 'there is a serious water leakage' should be 'there has been a serious water leak'. Additionally, 'from ceiling' requires an article: 'from the ceiling'. Despite these occasional slips, your meaning is always clear, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. You have used formal punctuation correctly, including the appropriate salutation and sign-off.

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

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