Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-26

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 Building Manager,

Hello, hope you are doing well. I am writing this email to you for the reason I had problem with sink got stuck some time the water goes down well, but sometimes it won't work properly. Before, I thought that something was stuck in the pipe, like sometimes garbage or any residue of food got stuck or fit unwell. But I just put the plunger in and checked it. Also, I tried the cleaner or liquid to clean the pipe. One of my friends suggested that sometimes it happens, but the problem still happened after so many things I tried. So I just want to write this letter so that, if you have time, can you please check it, or if you can come with a plumber, that would be a great help for me. Because I am new here, I don't know about many things. If you can come and check, it would be great.

Thank you,

Jainee

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the prompt: describing the problem, suggesting a solution, and requesting a visit. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a building manager. However, the development of your ideas is somewhat repetitive. For instance, you spend a significant portion of the letter detailing the specific methods you used to try and fix the sink (plunger, liquid cleaner, etc.), which makes the letter feel slightly cluttered. To improve, focus on being more concise with the description of the problem and ensure the request for a visit is clearly stated as the primary purpose of the letter.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is generally easy to follow, but it lacks formal paragraphing. In a formal letter, you should separate your introduction, the body (problem and actions taken), and your conclusion/request into distinct paragraphs. The use of cohesive devices is quite limited; you rely heavily on simple conjunctions like 'and' or 'so'. To reach a higher band, try to use a wider variety of linking words such as 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'in addition' to connect your ideas more fluidly. The progression of ideas is logical, but the lack of structure makes the overall flow feel a bit informal and disjointed.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate the nature of the problem clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'plunger', 'pipe', and 'residue'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'got stuck or fit unwell' and 'after so many things I tried'. These choices are functional but lack the precision expected at higher levels. To improve, focus on using more specific collocations related to maintenance issues and avoid overly conversational phrasing to maintain a professional tone throughout the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. For example, 'I had problem with sink got stuck' is missing articles and correct verb tense. Additionally, 'if you have time, can you please check it' is a slightly awkward construction. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading, particularly regarding subject-verb agreement and the use of articles (a/the). Focusing on sentence variety and accuracy in basic structures will help improve your score.

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

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