Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-30

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 this to express my disappointment regarding the recent article published by you in the newspaper 'The Square' on last Wednesday (29 August). The article was based on similarities of the town centres nation-wide.

Firstly, I would like to appreciate your efforts to highlight the town centres and I agree with some statements given in the article which include: the time and handwork it took to complete the buildings and all the buildings are entirely designed by the same architect 'Ranveer Singh'.

However, I totally disagree with the viewpoint that every town centre looks same. There are several point which differentiate the town centre of my town which are the floors of the building and latest technology used in the elevators. Also, our town centre have several new mobile shops which are not in any of the town centres.

I would like to formally request you yo visit our town so I can give you a tour thoroughlly. I am free on next Monday and Tuesday. Please let me know when you are free to visit my town.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Harsh.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address all three requested points and make your position clear: you agree with the article’s comments about the effort involved in construction and the architect, but reject its general conclusion. You also identify differences in your town and offer the writer a tour, with possible days for a visit. This covers the task well, while the specific differences are not fully explained: “the floors of the building” and the newer mobile shops are mentioned, but their distinctive features or significance are unclear. The agreement with the article is also somewhat difficult to interpret. To strengthen the response further, explain these examples and clarify exactly which claims in the article you accept.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter has a clear overall progression: you introduce your response, discuss points of agreement, explain your disagreement, and end with an invitation and a polite closing. Paragraphing supports this sequence, and signposts such as “Firstly,” “However,” and “Also” help the reader follow your points. The invitation is placed naturally near the end. Some linking is a little mechanical, and the list of differences in the third paragraph would be easier to follow if each feature were explained in a separate, connected sentence. The reference to “the article” and “the viewpoint” is generally clear, though more precise links between the article’s claims and your examples would make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range for a formal letter, including phrases such as “express my disappointment,” “highlight,” “viewpoint,” and “formally request.” These choices communicate your purpose, and the tone is mostly appropriate. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “on last Wednesday,” “handwork,” “looks same,” and “give you a tour thoroughlly.” “Several point” also shows a form error, while “mobile shops” may not clearly convey what makes these businesses distinctive. Aim for more natural phrasing and precise descriptions of the town’s features. Proofreading spelling and word forms would also improve control; these issues do not prevent the reader from understanding your main message.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including the relative clause in “statements … which include” and the conditional-style invitation, “so I can give you a tour.” Most sentences communicate their meaning, and the letter’s basic structure is controlled. Some grammatical errors remain, however: “every town centre looks same” needs an article, “our town centre have” has subject–verb disagreement, and “I am free on next Monday” uses an incorrect article pattern. The sentence beginning “There are several point” also has a plural agreement problem. Continue practising articles, agreement, and sentence construction, then proofread for these patterns. More accurate control of these forms would make the letter sound more polished.

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

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