Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-22

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/Ma,

I am writing to express my opinion on the article published yesterday on the similarity of town centers in Nigeria.

While the article was correct by mentioning that there are many town center in every major city, however this centers differs in multiple ways.

In the first way, the center differ in function, while the centers you will find in the east are more commercialized in nature in the sense that there are many shops in it, the town centers in the west is more education focused. Those in the north are more focused in religion.

Secondly, the centers differ in location. Most town centers in the east are closer to the urban cities, whereas the town centers in the north are more concentrated in the rural regions. The west town centers are evenly spread across the region.

Lastly, the centers differ in management. The town centers in the east are owned and managed by individuals that can afford to buy it and manage it, but in the north, it is managed by the government. The west is managed by both the government and individuals.

As i am based in the northern side of the country, i will truly like to take time out to give you a view of the differences of these centers and hope you will be able see that this is a wide margin of difference.

I hope to get your feedback soon.

Yours Sincerely,

Nnenna Ezeadebor

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all three bullet points of the task. You clearly state your disagreement with the article, explain the differences in your town centre regarding function, location, and management, and offer a tour. The position is consistent throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat repetitive; the structure of each paragraph follows an identical pattern (e.g., 'In the first way', 'Secondly', 'Lastly'), which makes the argument feel a bit mechanical. To reach a higher band, ensure that the explanation of these differences is more nuanced rather than just listing categories. Overall, the task requirements are fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the town centre, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use cohesive devices such as 'In the first way', 'Secondly', and 'Lastly' to signal transitions. However, some of these devices are slightly repetitive or unnatural. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally weak; for example, the phrase 'this centers' (plural noun with singular demonstrative) and 'the center differ' (singular noun with plural verb) create minor issues with cohesion. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'commercialized', 'concentrated', and 'management'. However, there are several instances of word-choice errors and inaccuracies, such as 'the center differ' instead of 'the centers differ' and 'in the sense that there are many shops in it' (which is slightly wordy). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and ensuring subject-verb agreement when using specific terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'this centers differs', 'the center differ', 'the town centers in the west is'). There are also punctuation and capitalization errors, such as the lowercase 'i' used throughout the text. These errors are noticeable and occur frequently, though they do not impede communication. To improve, pay closer attention to pluralization and subject-verb consistency, and ensure that 'I' is always capitalized.

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

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