Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-16

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 Manager,

I am writing to complain about having problem in my apartment that should requires urgent repair.

The main problem in my apartment is that my bedroom ceiling has been leaking whenever there is heavy rainfall, which caused water strained and damp patches on the ceiling.

For the second paragraph, you need to explain what you think should be done about the problem.

I would appreciate it if you could arrange for a qualified plumber or repair worker to visit my apartment and inspect the ceiling as soon as possible. I believe the source of the leakage should be identified and repaired properly. Moreover, the damaged part of the ceiling should be fixed to prevent the problem from happening again, especially during heavy rainfall.

I would also appreciate it if you could visit my apartment to see the problem yourself. Please let me know a suitable time for your visit.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Hani.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all three bullet points of the task: describing the problem, suggesting a solution, and requesting a visit. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter. However, the inclusion of the meta-commentary 'For the second paragraph, you need to explain what you think should be done about the problem' is highly inappropriate for a formal letter and suggests the candidate is addressing the prompt instructions rather than writing a natural letter. This significantly detracts from the task achievement as it breaks the communicative purpose of the letter.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear opening and closing. Paragraphing is used, though the content of the second paragraph is marred by the inclusion of instructions. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover' and 'For the second paragraph' are used to link ideas, but the latter is used incorrectly as a transition, highlighting a lack of control over formal letter structure. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the overall flow is interrupted by the inclusion of the prompt's instructions within the body of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task. Phrases like 'urgent repair', 'heavy rainfall', and 'damp patches' are accurate and relevant to the context. There are some minor errors, such as 'water strained' (should be 'water stains'), but these do not impede communication. The range is sufficient to convey the necessary information, though it lacks the sophistication or variety that would be required for a higher band score. The vocabulary is functional and fits the context of a formal complaint.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'having problem' (should be 'a problem') and 'should requires' (a double modal/verb error). Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout. The punctuation is generally correct, and the sentence structure is varied enough to maintain interest. The errors are frequent enough to prevent a higher score but do not cause significant difficulty for the reader.

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

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