Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-26

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 this letter in regard to the article I read in the national newspaper claiming town centres in my country are very alike to the other centres. I agree to some extent that town centres have become similar, but I don't agree that this is true everywhere.

It is undeniable that many downtown centres have identical store brands, restaurants and cafes. They also sometimes have similar design structures. However, I do not completely agree that all town centres are the same.

Unlike many other towns, my country town shops are unique as it not only brings out the positive vibe but also brings the cultural setting of the town. Our town centres are built in a historical building, having not just big brands but also giving opportunity to the local brands. It also has blend of old and new public art, green spaces and community centre.

I would be delighted to offer you a firsthand experience of the center in the heart of the city which makes our town center different from others.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly stated your partial agreement with the article, provided specific examples of how your town differs (historical buildings, local brands, and public art), and extended an invitation for a tour. The tone is appropriate for a letter to an editor. To improve, ensure your explanation of why your town is different is more detailed; for example, you mention 'historical buildings' and 'public art' but could elaborate on how these specifically contrast with the 'identical store brands' mentioned in the article to further strengthen your argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different points of the task. You use some cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Unlike', and 'It also has', which help the flow of ideas. To reach a higher band, try to vary your linking words further and ensure that the transition between the general observation about town centres and the specific description of your own town is smoother. The current structure is clear but could benefit from more sophisticated cohesive links.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your meaning clearly. Phrases like 'undeniable', 'firsthand experience', and 'cultural setting' are used appropriately. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'alike to the other centres' (should be 'similar to other centres') and 'built in a historical building' (should be 'housed in historical buildings'). Expanding your range of collocations and ensuring more precise word choices would help you achieve a higher score. Focus on using more academic or formal synonyms for common words.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'my country town shops are unique as it not only brings out...' where the subject-verb agreement is inconsistent ('shops' is plural, 'it' is singular). Additionally, 'It also has blend of old and new' is missing an article ('a blend'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and article usage to improve your accuracy.

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

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