Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-08

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 hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to you in regards to the advertisement for a Helper made by you in the magazine, Times Now.

I read the complete job description and would love to be considered for this role. I have taken up courses for cooking and can definitely cook any style of food you like. Furthermore, I love animals and will also take good care of your pets. I've had my pet dog Ben with me and can arrange their play dates.

I study part time at night. I will be free during the day and I can comfortably work at your place. Another compelling reason is that I am facing a language barrier here ever since I have been residing here and because you also speak in English it would be easier for me to communicate and work effectively for you.

Although I am generally available full time for you currently as I am not involved working anywhere else but please note that on Saturdays I will be occupied with my personal house chores and will not be able to make to your place.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Basila Simron

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly outlined how you could help (cooking and pet care), explained your motivation (language practice), and specified your availability. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a potential employer. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, providing enough detail to make your application convincing. You have maintained a consistent focus on the task requirements throughout the letter, ensuring the reader understands your offer and your constraints. To reach a higher band, ensure that all explanations are fully integrated; for instance, the mention of the language barrier is a good personal touch, though it could be linked more smoothly to the benefits of working for an English speaker.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the task. You have used some cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore' and 'Although' to connect your ideas. However, the progression between sentences could be slightly more fluid. For example, the transition between your cooking skills and pet care is a bit abrupt. Additionally, the use of referencing could be improved; in the sentence 'I've had my pet dog Ben with me and can arrange their play dates', the pronoun 'their' is slightly ambiguous as it refers back to a singular dog. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and the message is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your meaning clearly. Phrases like 'compelling reason' and 'residing here' are used effectively. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'taken up courses' (better: 'completed courses') and 'make to your place' (better: 'make it to your place'). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise or sophisticated collocations related to employment or domestic assistance would elevate your score. The spelling is accurate throughout, and your word choice is generally natural and appropriate for the context of a job inquiry.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most of your sentences are clear and grammatically sound, which ensures that communication is never impeded. There are some minor errors, such as 'I am not involved working anywhere else' (better: 'I am not currently working anywhere else') and the slightly awkward phrasing in 'advertisement for a Helper made by you'. Punctuation is generally correct, though some sentences could be tightened for better flow. You show a good grasp of tense usage, particularly when discussing your future availability and current circumstances. Increasing the variety of complex structures would help you achieve a higher band.

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

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