Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-09-07
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 Pari,
I am writing this to you in order to inform you that unfortunately i have got an urgent meeting to attend tomorrow at around 7 am for which i have to leave today with my colleagues. However, i will be handing the keys to my house to my neighbor Radhika who lives right next to my house on the right hand side. You could just collect it from her whenever since she is at home all day. Moreover, you can uber it to my home( 5 Rexadale Drive, Brampton) from the station when you get there because there are plenty outside when you reach the front gate. I feel really bad for not being able to pick you up as decided but i promise i will be home the same day by 3 pm and we will go out for lunch at one of the nicest restaurants in the city which has the best pasta. I know you will understand this and i cant wait to see you.
Yours truly,
Drishti
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response covers all three bullet points effectively. You clearly explained the key arrangement with your neighbor, provided instructions for the taxi, and suggested an evening activity. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a family member. However, there is a slight inconsistency in the timeline: you mention you will be home by 3 pm, but the prompt states you won't be home until the evening. While this does not significantly impede communication, ensuring all details align with the prompt's constraints is important for a higher score. 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 and easy to follow. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Moreover', and 'because' to link your ideas. The progression of information—from the key situation to transport and then to your evening plans—is natural. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate a wider variety of linking words and ensure that paragraphing is more distinct. Currently, the letter is presented as a single block of text; separating the introduction, the body points, and the closing into distinct paragraphs would significantly improve the visual structure and flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using phrases like 'urgent meeting' and 'collect it from her'. The language is natural and appropriate for an informal letter. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'you can uber it', which is colloquial but acceptable in this context. To improve, try to incorporate more precise or descriptive vocabulary to enhance the tone. For example, instead of 'nicest restaurants', you could use 'highly-regarded' or 'renowned'. Your spelling is generally accurate, and the vocabulary used is sufficient to convey your message clearly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'I am writing this to you in order to inform you that...' and 'I feel really bad for not being able to pick you up as decided'. There are some grammatical slips, such as the failure to capitalize the pronoun 'I' and the lowercase 'i' in several instances. Additionally, there are minor punctuation errors, such as missing spaces after commas and before parentheses. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on consistent capitalization and punctuation will improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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