Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-26

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Mrs Barrett, an English-speaking woman who lives in your town, has advertised for someone to help her in her home for a few hours a day next summer.

Write a letter to Mrs Barrett. In your letter

• suggest how you could help her in her home
• say why you would like to do this work
• explain when you will and will not be available

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Mrs Barrett,

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear Mrs Barrett,

I am writing to express my interest in the summer job you advertised recently. I will be delighted if you hire me.

Firstly, I have lived in the same neighbourhood with you for more than ten now, I believe i will be in a better position to help you in keeping your large home tidy during this summer period since you may go on vacation for some weeks during this period.

Secondly, I would want gain more experience in dog training since you are an expert in this field. Whenever, you are around i would want to watch you training those special dogs in your custody. I have an intermediate knowledge in dog training, this opportunity will enable me to sharpen my skills.

Thirdly, I will not be available during the weekends but I will be on duty throughout the weekdays. You don't need to pay me since i will acquire a lot of experience working under you this summer if hired.

I look forward to hearing from you. You can contact me on this mobile number : [redacted phone]. Thank you.

Kind regards,

Mr. Chinonso Okoro.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly suggested how you could help (keeping the home tidy), explained your motivation (gaining experience in dog training), and provided your availability (weekdays only). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter. However, the development of your ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, you could have elaborated more on the specific household tasks you are capable of performing. Additionally, offering to work for free is a bit unusual for a job advertisement; while it is a valid idea, it might be more realistic to discuss your enthusiasm for the learning opportunity rather than explicitly stating you do not require payment.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each requirement, and a proper closing. You used transition signals such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Thirdly' to guide the reader through your points. While these are effective, they are somewhat mechanical. To improve, try using more varied cohesive devices or linking ideas within sentences rather than relying solely on list-like transitions. Paragraphing is used correctly, and the overall progression of information is easy to follow, which meets the requirements for a Band 7 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have an adequate range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'express my interest', 'sharpen my skills', and 'in your custody' are appropriate. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'lived in the same neighbourhood with you' (should be 'in the same neighbourhood as you') and 'ten now' (missing the unit of time, e.g., 'ten years'). To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing. The vocabulary is sufficient for the task but lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is always clear, there are frequent errors in punctuation and grammar. For example, there are comma splices in 'I have lived in the same neighbourhood with you for more than ten now, I believe i will be...' and 'I have an intermediate knowledge in dog training, this opportunity will enable me...'. Additionally, there are issues with capitalization (e.g., 'i') and missing articles. These errors do not impede communication, but they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on sentence boundaries and basic proofreading will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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