Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-07

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have just read an article in a national newspaper which claims that town centres in your country all look very similar to each other. You don't fully agree with this opinion.

Write a letter to the editor of the newspaper. In your letter

• say which points in the article you agree with
• explain ways in which your town centre is different from most other town centres
• offer to give a guided tour of your town to the writer of the article

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction regarding the article in a national newspaper that depicts that all town centres are quite similar to each other.

As my town has several amenities such as well-maintained public parks, hospitals, schools and transit services, which attracts the society and gives them a comfortable environment, which is properly explained in your article and I completely agree with your statement. However, unlike other town centres, my town centre is not attached to a national highway, which creates inconvenience for the community.

Although the town is a melting pot due to their local markets and common banded shops, parking is a big issue, which makes it distinct from other towns as they have huge parking slots, even underground ones. If you would like to rewrite in brief about my town, I can give you a guided tour at your convenience, which will help you to present the article in a more effective way.

I look forward to your prompt response and I hope this information will assist to correct the article.

Kind regards,

Harjit Rai

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points of the prompt, which is excellent. You clearly stated your position regarding the article, explained how your town differs (specifically regarding highway access and parking), and extended an invitation for a tour. However, the development of your ideas is slightly inconsistent. For instance, in the second paragraph, you mention agreeing with the article, but the connection between the amenities listed and the article's claim is not fully logical. To improve, ensure that your explanation of why your town is different is more clearly linked to the specific claim of 'sameness' made in the newspaper article. Overall, the tone is appropriate for a formal letter to an editor.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with clear paragraphing. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'However', and 'If you would like', which help the reader follow your argument. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the referencing in the second paragraph is slightly confusing; for example, the phrase 'which is properly explained in your article' is ambiguous because it is unclear what exactly you are agreeing with. To reach a higher band, focus on ensuring that each sentence flows naturally into the next and that your use of pronouns clearly refers back to the intended antecedents.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task, using terms like 'dissatisfaction', 'amenities', 'melting pot', and 'at your convenience'. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'common banded shops' (which is unclear) and 'rewrite in brief' (which sounds slightly unnatural). While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your message clearly, incorporating more precise or sophisticated collocations would enhance the quality of your writing. You have avoided repetition, which is a positive sign of a developing lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the conditional sentence in the final paragraph. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'depicts that all town centres are' (should be 'depicts all town centres as being') and 'due to their local markets' (where 'their' lacks a clear plural noun to refer to). Additionally, the sentence structure in the second paragraph is quite long and slightly run-on, which affects clarity. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and refining your use of relative clauses will help you achieve greater accuracy and control over complex structures.

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

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