Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-09-17

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

New neighbours have recently moved into the house/flat next door to where you live. You have examinations soon, but your neighbours play music late at night which is affecting your studies and sleep.

• explain what the problem is
• why it is causing you difficulties
• what action you would like them to take

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear neighbours,

I am writing to request you that not play music loudly especially at night. Well, I am a college student and have examinations at the end of this month. The voice of the music is affecting my studies and sleep after 9.00 pm.

My classes are from morning 8.00 am to 3.45 pm on weekdays. Hence, loud music is not only disturbing my sleep and studies but also hampers my concentration in the class. As a result, my grades have been deteriorated as per last two weeks test results.

I would appreciate it if you could reduce the volume or use earpods at night. I would be grateful if you could follow the security noise pollution control regulations as no one is allowed to play loud music late at night especially after 8.30 pm. Please let me know if you have an alternative solution at your own convenience.

Thank you for your time in the anticipation, and I look forward to hearing a positive response from your side.

Yours sincerely,

Reena

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully covers all three bullet points required in the prompt. First, the problem is clearly explained in the opening paragraph where Reena mentions that the neighbours play loud music late at night. Second, she elaborates on why it is causing difficulties, specifically detailing her class schedule, how the noise disrupts her sleep and concentration, and how her recent test grades have deteriorated as a result. Third, actionable actions are proposed, asking them to reduce the volume, use earpods, or follow noise pollution regulations. The tone is appropriately formal for a letter to neighbours, and the purpose is sustained throughout. Therefore, this fulfills the criteria for a well-developed response, aligning well with Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter exhibits a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. It opens with an appropriate salutation and a direct statement of purpose, moves into the personal impacts and consequences in the second paragraph, proposes solutions in the third paragraph, and concludes with a polite sign-off. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate distinct ideas, such as the schedule impact versus the proposed solutions. Cohesive devices are deployed reasonably well, using phrases like 'Hence', 'As a result', and 'I would appreciate it if'. Although referencing is occasionally a bit mechanical, the overarching structure remains clear and easy to follow, supporting a Band 7 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

Reena demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey her message with some precision and flexibility. Phrases such as 'noise pollution regulations', 'alternative solution', and 'deteriorated' show an awareness of appropriate collocation and formal style suitable for a complaint letter. There are minor unnatural collocations, such as 'request you that not play' (instead of 'request that you do not play') and 'The voice of the music' (instead of 'The volume of the music'), but these vocabulary and word-choice slips do not impede communication. The lexical range is adequate to achieve a solid Band 6.5, leaning towards Band 7 given the overall communicative success.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over structures such as conditional-style requests ('I would appreciate it if you could...') and consequence clauses ('As a result, my grades have been deteriorated...'). However, there are a few noticeable grammatical errors, such as the incorrect infinitive clause in 'request you that not play' and the passive voice error 'have been deteriorated' (should be active: 'have deteriorated'). Punctuation is generally accurate, and despite the persistence of these occasional errors, they rarely impede communication, placing the grammar comfortably in the Band 6 territory.

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