Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-11-09

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 6.0)

Dear Michael,

I'm writing this letter as response to the WhatsApp message you sent to me on Thursday that you will be coming by train in 10am in the morning but i won't be available till evening. I have dropped my key with my neighbour and order a ride through an online application to take you to my house to avoid any difficulties.

My house is a 30 minutes drive from the train station and there are recreation centres and restaurants you will see when going to my house. Alternatively, if you are not satisfied with the ride, you can hire a private taxi driver to take you home.

I would suggest we play with one of my computer games when I am back from office and visit any restaurants which I believe you would enjoy. If you encounter any difficulties when coming from trainstation, feel free to reach out to me or call my neighbour number [redacted phone].

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Best wishes,

Kenny.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The letter covers all three requested points: you explain that a neighbour has the key, give a journey estimate and transport options, and suggest activities for the evening. The tone is appropriately friendly, with a greeting and sign-off. However, some details are less fully addressed than others. “I have dropped my key with my neighbour” does not explain how Michael should contact or find the neighbour to collect it, and the route from the station is not actually described beyond saying it is a 30-minute drive. The evening plan is also quite general. Give clear collection instructions, a specific route or landmark, and a more definite plan for when you return to make the arrangements fully useful.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information is arranged in a sensible sequence: the opening explains the visit and key arrangements, the next paragraph covers travel, and the final paragraph discusses the evening and offers help. This makes the letter easy to follow overall. You also use linking expressions such as “Alternatively” and “If you encounter any difficulties” to connect ideas. To make the progression more polished, separate the key instructions from the transport arrangements and use clearer references: “my neighbour” is mentioned, but the reader is not told how to identify or contact them to obtain the key. The final paragraph combines plans, directions-related help, and contact details; organising these points more distinctly would make cohesion less dependent on straightforward sequencing.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a personal letter, including “available,” “private taxi driver,” “encounter any difficulties,” and “recreation centres.” These choices communicate the main arrangements, and the friendly register is generally suitable. Some expressions are imprecise or do not sound natural in context, such as “order a ride through an online application,” “play with one of my computer games,” and “visit any restaurants.” “Trainstation” is also conventionally written as two words. Aim for more natural collocations and precise travel language, for example, say that you have booked a ride through an app and suggest playing a computer game or going out for dinner. This would make the letter sound more fluent and idiomatic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The letter includes both simple sentences and longer structures, such as the opening sentence with a relative clause and the conditional “if you are not satisfied with the ride.” Most of the message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors are noticeable. In “as response,” an article is needed; “coming by train in 10am” uses an incorrect preposition; and “i” should be capitalised. The phrase “I have dropped my key” also needs a clearer possessive reference, while “my neighbour number” requires a possessive form. Review articles, prepositions, capitalisation, and possessives, then proofread longer sentences for clarity. More accurate control of these forms would strengthen the otherwise clear communication.

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