Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-13

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 Helena,

I am so excited to have you next week but unfortunately, I won’t be there to pick you up at the time of your arrival. I have to attend an emergency meeting on Monday morning.

Although, I am planning to keep the keys with my neighbour Ayona, you can grab the keys from her.

Also, when you arrive at the station you can call a taxi from the nearby taxi station. I will send you the address to confirm you have the right one with you. Once you get here please call Ayona she will bring the keys. And I will keep some food inside the fridge, please have it and get some rest.

The meeting will finish by 3pm, afterwards we can visit the CN Tower and I reserved a nice dinner for us. I am so excited to meet you, if you want to add additional places that we need to visit together save them all.

I cannot wait to see you.

Yours

Lincy

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You clearly explained the key arrangements with your neighbour, provided instructions for the taxi, and outlined your evening plans. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a family member. To reach a higher band, ensure that the instructions are slightly more precise; for instance, you mention the meeting ends at 3pm but do not explicitly state when you will be home, which is a minor omission. Overall, the ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the visit, which helps the reader follow the information easily. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Although', 'Also', and 'Once you get here', to link your sentences. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be more distinct to separate the logistical instructions from the social plans. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the flow and help you reach a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task, using words like 'unfortunately', 'emergency', and 'reserved' correctly. The language is natural and appropriate for a personal letter. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations or slightly more sophisticated vocabulary to describe your plans, such as 'collect the keys' instead of 'grab the keys' or 'itinerary' instead of 'places that we need to visit'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While most sentences are clear, there are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'Although, I am planning...' (the comma after 'Although' is unnecessary) and 'please call Ayona she will bring' (which is a run-on sentence that requires a conjunction or semicolon). Despite these errors, the meaning is never obscured. To achieve a higher band, focus on using more varied complex structures and ensuring punctuation is used accurately to separate independent clauses.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.