Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-11-05

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

A family member is coming to stay with you. He/she will be arriving by train in the morning, but you won’t be home until the evening.

• explain arrangements you have made for them to have keys and get into the house

• tell your relative how to get from the train station to your house

• say when you will be home and suggest what you could do together that evening

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear Jan,

I hope you are doing great. I am writing regarding your letter I have received recently about you coming to stay with me. I am really looking forward to spending time together in the next few days.

I won't be home when you arrive, so I am going to put the keys of the house under the 3rd pot of cactus plant in my garden. Please make yourself comfortable until I come back from my work.

I know that you will arrive at the train station at 5 P.M. today. Unfortunately, I finish my work at 6.30 P.M., so I won't be able to pick you up. You can take the bus no. 52 from the nearest bus stop. It will drop you off in the middle of my street, a few steps away from my house. My house no. is 634B.

I am going to be home at sharp 7 P.M., so I guess we surely can have dinner together. There is a great mexican restaurant at the downtown we can go to. I can make the reservation for tonight, I believe you will enjoy the food,

I look forward to seeing you tonight.

Yours faithfully

Diana.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three required points and maintains a clear, friendly purpose. You explain where the keys will be, give a bus route and house number, and state when you expect to return before suggesting dinner at a Mexican restaurant. These details make the arrangements practical and the invitation relevant. The directions are somewhat general, however: “the nearest bus stop” and “the middle of my street” may not be enough for a visitor unfamiliar with the area. You could add the stop’s name, the journey time, or a landmark. The evening plan is also brief; mentioning a specific time to meet or asking what your relative would prefer would develop it further. Overall, the task is covered clearly, with some details more fully developed than others.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information is arranged in a clear sequence: a warm opening, arrival and key arrangements, travel directions, and evening plans. Paragraphing helps the reader locate each part of the message, and links such as “so,” “Unfortunately,” and “I look forward to seeing you” support the progression. The letter is easy to follow throughout. Some connections could be made more smoothly: the shift from the bus directions to your work schedule is understandable but slightly abrupt, and “I guess” followed by “surely” makes the dinner suggestion sound less direct than intended. A more natural transition, such as explaining that you will meet at home before going out, would strengthen the flow. The closing is appropriate, though the sign-off could be matched more closely to the familiar tone of “Dear Jan.”

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a personal letter, including practical expressions such as “make yourself comfortable,” “pick you up,” and “make the reservation.” The meaning remains clear, and the tone is generally warm. Some word choices and collocations are less natural, including “the keys of the house,” “from my work,” and “at the downtown.” “At sharp 7 P.M.” is also an awkward expression for giving a return time. There is a spelling and capitalization issue in “mexican,” which should be capitalized as “Mexican.” Aim for more precise, idiomatic phrases for directions and arrangements, while keeping the friendly register. These improvements would make the vocabulary sound more controlled and natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The letter includes a useful mix of simple and more complex sentences, such as “I won't be home when you arrive” and “Unfortunately, I finish my work at 6.30 P.M., so I won't be able to pick you up.” Most sentences communicate the arrangements clearly, and the reader can follow the timeline. Some grammatical and punctuation issues remain. In “I am writing regarding your letter I have received recently,” the clauses need clearer connection, for example, “I am writing about the letter I recently received.” The sentence beginning “I can make the reservation for tonight” is joined to the next clause with a comma, creating a comma splice; use a full stop or conjunction. “At the downtown” also has an article/preposition problem. More consistently accurate clause linking and article use would strengthen the control already shown.

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

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