Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-14

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,

This letter is with reference to one of the article published in a national newspaper. The article states that all the town centres in my country look identical to each other and I partially agree to it. There were seven paragraphs in the article out of which only two of them have the information which is similar to other like colour of the paint, number of trees planted around the centre, and the contractor who built them.

Additionally, I would like to explain the things which will help you to understand the difference among them. Firstly, the amenities provided in the centre like gymnasium, swimming pool and the number of rooms are different to each other. Secondly, the material used to built them is very different, for an instance, some of them were built with glass while others were built with wood, and most of them are built with concrete to enjoy the wide range of weather in the country.

Furthermore, I would like to invite you to visit these centre in-person to experience the difference. This will not help you to write the article with facts but also to understand the historical value of these town centres. I am available from 10th September to 13th September, 2026 between 10am to 6pm for a guided tour.

Let me know your availability to book the slots. Looking forward to your positive response.

Regards,

XYZ

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task effectively. You clearly stated your partial agreement with the article, provided specific examples of how your town differs (amenities and materials), and extended a polite invitation for a tour. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to an editor. However, the development of ideas is slightly uneven; for instance, the description of town centre materials (glass, wood, concrete) is a bit repetitive and could have been more focused on architectural character rather than just construction materials. Overall, the response is well-structured and fulfills the requirements of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You have used transition signals such as 'Additionally', 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Furthermore' to guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the body of the argument, and the conclusion. While the flow is generally smooth, some of the cohesive devices feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is clear throughout, and the letter maintains a consistent focus on the topic from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'in-person', 'historical value', and 'positive response' are used correctly. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'one of the article' (should be 'one of the articles') and 'difference among them' (should be 'differences between them'). You also used 'built' instead of the noun 'building' or 'construction' in some instances. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise, less common vocabulary related to urban planning or architecture.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'the article published' (should be 'the article that was published'), 'similar to other' (should be 'similar to others'), and 'This will not help you to write' (should be 'This will not only help you to write'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. Your control of punctuation is generally good, and the letter follows a standard formal structure.

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

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