Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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,

I am writing in response to your article in a local newspaper claiming the similar look of town centres in my country.

I agree with your observation that states the placements of roundabout in the center of these town centres with statue on the top of it. However, all these statues are different, as these were build to honour the martyrs of our city. Moreover, it describes the similar looking high- rise building and modern cafes everywhere while town centre in my region is surrounded by historic building and family-run business promoting local culture.

I would like to invite you next summer to visit my area. My town centre is worth exploring since it will connect you to the history of my country by meeting people living here you will be able to learn a lot about the past of my country, as you might have the chance to taste the local food, try traditional clothes from the market. Therefore, you will be having new content for your next writing.

I hope you will accept my invitation.

Yours faithfully,

Mansi.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly identify the points of agreement regarding roundabouts and statues, provide a distinct contrast by highlighting the historic nature of your town, and extend a polite invitation for a tour. The tone is appropriate for a letter to an editor. To reach a higher band, ensure that your arguments are slightly more developed; for instance, you could elaborate on why the historic buildings in your town specifically challenge the 'similar look' narrative beyond just mentioning their existence. Overall, the task is fully addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter follows a logical progression, with each paragraph focusing on a specific requirement of the task. The use of cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Moreover', and 'Therefore' helps to link ideas effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of your argument. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. For example, the final sentence of the second paragraph could be better integrated with the preceding points to improve the overall cohesion of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'martyrs', 'historic', and 'family-run business' effectively. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'claiming the similar look' (should be 'claiming that town centres look similar') and 'placements of roundabout' (should be 'placement of roundabouts'). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more precise control over noun phrases and prepositional usage. Expanding your vocabulary to include more nuanced adjectives would enhance the descriptive quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'these were build' (should be 'built'), 'statue on the top of it' (should be 'statues on top of them'), and 'you will be having new content' (should be 'you will have'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and article errors throughout. While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding your message. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice constructions.

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

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