Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-16

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear John,

I hope you are doing well. I wanted to talk to you about something I noticed after returing from my trip.

When I came home, I discovered that my laptop has been broken. It was on the desk in my bedroom when I left, but I found a large crack across the screen and the laptop was no longer working properly. I understand that accidents can happen, so I am not angry with you. However, I was quite upset when I saw the damage.

The laptop is particularly important to me because I bought it with my savings after starting my first job. Apart from its financial value, I have used to store my personal documents and my photos. Therefore, it has considerable sentimental value to me as well.

I would appreciate it if you could let me know what happened. I would like you to contribute towards the repair costs. After geting estimate cost we can discuss how to handle the expanse.

I hope you understand why this matters to me.

Best wishes,

Raj

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively addresses all parts of the communicative task. The tone is appropriate for writing to a friend, balancing friendliness with the serious nature of the situation. The writer explains the issue clearly, mentioning the broken laptop screen discovered upon returning home, highlights its personal and financial value, and makes a clear request for a contribution towards repair costs. The purpose of the letter is well-developed and easy to follow throughout, achieving a solid Band 7 performance for task achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organised with a clear beginning, middle, and end, supported by appropriate paragraphing. The introduction sets a friendly tone, the body paragraphs elaborate on the problem and its value, and the conclusion gracefully wraps up the communication. Cohesive devices are used adequately, such as 'However', 'The laptop is particularly important', and 'Therefore'. Although referencing and transitions are generally clear, cohesion feels slightly mechanical in places, placing it comfortably in the Band 7 category.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate and flexible range of vocabulary suited to a semi-formal letter. Words and phrases such as 'considerable sentimental value', 'financial value', and 'contribute towards' show a good attempt at less common items. However, there are a few noticeable spelling errors ('returing' instead of returning, 'geting' instead of getting, 'expanse' instead of expense). Despite these minor mechanical flaws, communication is never impeded, reflecting the descriptors for Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer uses a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'I understand that accidents can happen, so I am not angry with you' and 'The laptop is particularly important to me because I bought it with my savings'. Control of grammar is generally sound, though there is a noticeable grammatical error in 'I have used to store', which should be 'I have used it to store'. Punctuation is mostly accurate. The frequency of error-free sentences aligns well with a Band 6.5 performance, rounded to 6.5.

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

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