Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-05

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

A magazine wants to include contributions from its readers for an article called 'The book that influenced me most'.

Write a letter to the editor of the magazine about the book that influenced you most. In your letter

- describe what this book was about
- explain how this book influenced you
- say whether this book would be likely to influence other people

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 6.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter about a magazine that has had the most effect on me after reading it.

This book is very famous which also won the Nobel Prize and also won awards. The book's name is "Fly Like Birds" by Ray Browns. he has mentioned the motivational things about birds which they face every day.

I think this is a very inspiring book for me because I used to not value the things I am getting during the day. On the other hand, the birds have to make their nest and find food for daily living.

I personally feel this book can influence other people because people are not valuing the things they are getting in their lives. As browns mention in book that how birds do stugglues in there daily life. just for food also he compared the huanan and birds in the book where people should be thankful for what we are getting in our lifes.

thank you

sweta patel

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all three bullet points of the prompt: describing the book, explaining its influence, and discussing its potential impact on others. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. The description of the book is vague, and the explanation of how it influenced the writer is repetitive. While the task is fulfilled, the ideas lack depth and specific detail, which prevents the response from reaching a higher band. The tone is generally appropriate for a letter to an editor, though the content could be more engaging and better structured to fully explore the prompt's requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite basic and sometimes mechanical. For instance, the transition 'On the other hand' is used incorrectly to introduce a comparison rather than a contrast. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'as browns mention in book'. While the overall arrangement is coherent, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the occasional awkward phrasing mean that the flow of ideas is not always smooth.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward word choices and spelling errors, such as 'stugglues' (struggles), 'huanan' (human), and 'lifes' (lives). The range of vocabulary is limited, relying on simple descriptors like 'motivational things' and 'very inspiring'. To improve, you should aim to use more precise terminology and ensure correct spelling. The repetition of basic words like 'book' and 'things' also suggests a need for a wider range of synonyms to express ideas more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'birds which they face'), incorrect article usage, and punctuation errors. For example, 'he has mentioned the motivational things about birds which they face every day' is grammatically clunky. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and pluralization would significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

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

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