Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-25

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The younger sister of one of your friends is thinking about spending a year studying abroad as part of her university course. You did this recently, and she has asked you about your experience.

Write a letter to your friend's sister. In your letter

• tell her where you studied during your year abroad

• describe what you learnt about the country you studied in

• explain why your year abroad was helpful for your studies

Begin your letter as follows:
Dear........,

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear Trisha,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. I am writing this letter to share my experience of studing in Canada.

Last year, I completed my one year master degree programme from University of Toronto in Canada. I did it in a Production line. The course had three samester and each semester lasted six months. So in total I spend 18 months there.

This country taught me many things. The first thing I learnt is English language. You know I and your brother studied from HIndi medium school so it was hard for me to learn this language. Apart from language I learn to cook new Canadian dishes and their rules about the transportation.

This study not only helps me to get a new degree but also provides me new experiences. I lived alone there that is helping me to become a independent. Now I can manage all my household chores by myself including cooking and washing. The second benefit is I become more resillient than the past. I can manage pressure tasks.

I hope this experience will help you to choose your path. Thank you for you time and consideration. See you soon.

Best regards,

Jack

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required in the prompt. First, Jack clearly states where he studied, mentioning the University of Toronto in Canada and providing specific duration details. Second, he describes what he learned about the country, mentioning the English language, local Canadian dishes, and public transportation rules. Third, he explains why the year abroad was helpful for his studies and personal growth, highlighting both academic progression and independence. The tone is appropriate for writing to a friend's sister. Although there are some minor factual inconsistencies regarding course duration (e.g. three semesters lasting six months each), all aspects of the task are well-covered and ideas are sufficiently developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter is logically organised with a clear beginning and ending. The response is divided into paragraphs, each focusing on a distinct theme such as location, cultural learning, and personal/academic benefits. However, paragraphing and transitions could be smoother. Phrases like 'The first thing I learnt', 'The second benefit', and 'The second thing' are somewhat repetitive and mechanical, pointing to a limited repertoire of cohesive devices. Referencing is generally clear, and the progression of ideas allows the reader to follow the letter without difficulty, fitting the criteria for a solid band 6.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing Jack to communicate his experiences and ideas effectively. He attempts some less common vocabulary, such as 'resilient' and 'consideration', though there are spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'studing' instead of studying and 'samester' instead of semester. Collocations are occasionally awkward, such as 'pressure tasks', but these errors do not impede communication. The lexical range is sufficient for a semi-formal letter, though it lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

Jack demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and conjunctions. There are several grammatical errors and typos throughout the letter, such as 'master degree programme' instead of Master's degree programme, 'I spend' instead of spent, 'Hindi medium school' instead of a Hindi-medium school, and 'a independent' instead of an independent person. Punctuation is generally acceptable, and while errors are noticeable, they rarely impede communication. The control over grammar is characteristic of band 6 performance.

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