Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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,

Good day to you. During my siesta the previous day, I was going through the national newspaper, and I came across an article on the front page. The article stated that center A and center B in my country, Nigeria look similar to each other. I do not agree with this, and this is actually a false information.

If you have ever visited these two centers in Nigeria, the differences will be noticeable to you. Although, I do agree with the information on how the centers represent the rich Nigerian heritage and culture. I also agree with the fact that you can find different artefacts in the two centers.

Unfortunately, they have different building structures. Center A represents the culture of the eastern part of Nigeria. Hence, the building is painted with a bright yellow and a dark red colour. These colours symbolize the unity and pride of these Easterners. Center B on the other hand, represents the culture of the western part of Nigeria. Center B is painted with a deep brown and green colour. These colours represent the solid vegetation and education these westerns have.

If you ever have the time and opportunity to visit Nigeria, I do hope to give you a guided tour of these centers and other parts of the country.

Thank you very much for your time. I do hope the changes are confirmed and corrected immediately.

Yours faithfully,

Osahon Abigail

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task. You clearly state your disagreement with the article, provide specific examples of how your town centers differ through their cultural architecture and color symbolism, and include the offer for a guided tour. The tone is appropriate for a letter to an editor. However, the development of ideas is slightly repetitive, and the reference to 'center A' and 'center B' feels a bit mechanical rather than descriptive. To reach a higher band, ensure that your arguments are more naturally integrated into the flow of the letter rather than just listing them as responses to the prompt requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'Hence', and 'on the other hand' to link ideas. However, the transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is slightly abrupt. Additionally, the use of 'Center A' and 'Center B' as the primary way to refer to the locations makes the text feel a bit repetitive. Improving the variety of your linking words and using more sophisticated referencing would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have an adequate range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'rich Nigerian heritage', 'solid vegetation', and 'guided tour' are used effectively. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'false information' (which should be 'incorrect information' or 'inaccurate') and 'siesta' (which is usually a nap, not a time for reading). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the more precise, sophisticated collocations that would characterize a higher band. Focusing on more natural word combinations will help improve this score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'the previous day' (which is slightly unnatural in this context) and 'these westerns have' (should be 'Westerners'). Punctuation is generally correct, and your meaning is always clear despite these occasional slips. You have attempted complex sentences, but they are sometimes slightly awkward. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and using more varied sentence starters to avoid repetitive structures. The errors present do not impede communication, which is a positive aspect of your writing.

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

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