Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-23

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 6.0)

Dear Veerpal,

Hope everything is going perfect for you. I am writing this letter to share my study experience with you.

I took two year diploma in Business Admin at MSVU. It is very good university and professors were very professional and helpful. I took 25 courses.

To be honest, I loved my stay in Canada especially in Nova Scotia. I was amazed by the bus services, big outlets, delicious food and other quick services. Everything was quite accessible. My studies went smoothly. But I really found winters hard without having personal vehicle.

I took all offline classes as it helps to pay proper attention to professors and every single detail. I was able to participate in extra activities offered by the university. Also, I got a chance to make new friends too. I believe my decision of moving to Canada was totally right and proved very helpful for my studies too.

Hope it helps. Take care and ask me if you have any other question.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the three requested points: you identify MSVU in Canada, describe aspects of life in Nova Scotia, and explain that attending classes and joining university activities supported your studies. The letter is relevant and has an appropriate friendly purpose. However, the study location is not fully clear: “I took two year diploma in Business Admin at MSVU” does not explain whether this was your year abroad or where you studied for that year. The country description focuses mainly on services and amenities, while what you learnt about Canada could be developed with a more personal observation. The explanation of academic benefits is also somewhat general; clarify how participation, new friendships, or in-person classes improved your learning. These unevenly developed points limit the response’s completeness.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a clear overall arrangement, moving from an introduction to your studies, your impressions of Canada, and the benefits of the experience, before closing warmly. Paragraph breaks help the reader follow these topics, and phrases such as “To be honest,” “Also,” and “Hope it helps” support the informal letter style. Some connections are less clear, however. “My studies went smoothly” is followed by “But I really found winters hard,” which shifts from study to daily life without explaining the relationship. The final paragraph also combines classes, extracurricular activities, friendships, and the overall value of moving abroad. Grouping related ideas and using clearer links between the experience and its academic benefits would make progression more consistent.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a personal letter, including “accessible,” “participate,” “extra activities,” and “professors.” These choices communicate your experience, and the tone is generally friendly. Some expressions are imprecise or unnatural, such as “big outlets,” “quick services,” and “offline classes”; they do not always convey exactly what you mean. “Everything was quite accessible” is also broad, and more specific wording could describe transport or facilities. There is some repetition of general terms such as “helpful” and “studies.” Choose more precise collocations and vocabulary for academic benefits and cultural observations, while keeping the language natural and personal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple sentences and more developed forms, including “I was amazed by…” and “I believe my decision… was totally right.” Most ideas remain understandable, and errors rarely prevent communication. Some grammatical inaccuracies are noticeable: “Hope everything is going perfect for you” needs a more suitable verb form, and “I took two year diploma” is missing an article and has a number agreement problem. In “I took all offline classes as it helps,” the tense shifts from past to present; keep the account consistently in the past. “Any other question” also needs a plural form in this context. Check articles, agreement, and tense consistency, and vary sentence structures more confidently.

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