Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-29

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 Navjot,

I hope you are doing well. I heard about your plans for foreign education as part of your university course and I would like to share my experience as I recently completed a diploma course in Canada.

I was selected in four major universities in Greater Toronto Area, but I choose to complete my diploma from University of Toronto which is also considered one of the best universities in that area. Moreover, I learned about the culture and I would say that Canadians are one of the most kind hearted people in the globe. The other thing that surprised me was, I came to know that Canada is the second largest country in the world. That year was very crucial for me as I gained wide exposure and also gained practical knowledge apart from theory. I can now easily diffrentiate my abilities with my classmates who did not opt for this opportunity.

Anyway, I'd better get going. I would suggest you to not overthink about it and just grap this wonderful chance to explore.

Best regards,

Harjot

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address all three points: you identify the University of Toronto, mention learning about Canadian culture and geography, and explain that the year gave you practical knowledge and wider exposure. The advice to take the opportunity also suits the friendly letter. However, the description of what you learnt is brief and mostly general, while the study benefit is asserted rather than illustrated; for example, “I can now easily differentiate my abilities” does not explain which skills improved or how they support her course. The response therefore covers the task, but some points are less fully developed than others. Add a specific example of a cultural discovery and connect a particular skill or experience to your academic progress.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall shape, moving from an opening, through your experience, to a friendly closing. The sequence of information is generally understandable, and phrases such as “Moreover,” “The other thing,” and “Anyway” help signal transitions. However, most of the content is placed in one long middle paragraph, so the location, cultural learning, and academic benefits are not clearly separated. Some links also feel mechanical, and “That year” shifts abruptly from facts about Canada to the value of the experience. Use separate paragraphs for the three main points and make the relationship between ideas more explicit—for instance, explain how practical knowledge gained abroad helped with a specific part of your studies.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range for a personal letter, including phrases such as “wide exposure,” “practical knowledge,” and “crucial,” which help communicate your experience. There are also attempts at more expressive language, such as “kind hearted” and “wonderful chance.” Some choices are inaccurate or unnatural, however: “foreign education” is less suitable than “studying abroad,” “selected in four major universities” is not the intended collocation, and “differentiate my abilities with my classmates” is unclear. Spelling slips such as “diffrentiate” and “grap” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, natural collocations and check spelling; this will make your meaning clearer without needing more elaborate vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including the relative clause in “which is also considered one of the best universities” and the reason introduced by “as.” Meaning is generally clear, and the letter includes some accurate sentence structures. Some grammatical errors remain, though. In “I choose to complete,” the past-tense form should be “chose”; “from University of Toronto” needs an article or possessive construction; and “I would suggest you to not overthink” uses an incorrect verb pattern. The comma in “The other thing that surprised me was, I came to know” also disrupts the sentence structure. Review verb forms, articles, and verb patterns, then proofread punctuation.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.