Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-14

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 in response to your resquest to reader's contribution for an article entitled "The book that influenced me most." I would like to recommend a book named "Wings of Fire," the autobiography written by Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam which has a great influence on me.

This book describes Dr. Kalam's life journey from his early childhood experiences to becoming a renowned scientist and eventually the President of India. It also sheds light on his contributions to the space programs and his achievements. What inspires me the most is his dedication and determination towards his goals despite having limited resources.

The book influenced me by changing my attitude towards challenges and failures. Before reading it, I lost hope of succeeding in situations that did not go according to plan. However, Dr. Kalam's inspiring life stories changed my perceptions and encouraged me to set high goals by dealing with each challenge with patience, hard work, and continuous learning. It also shed light on how an ordinary person can become successful even having

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task: describing the book, explaining its influence, and discussing its potential impact on others. However, the response is incomplete as it ends abruptly mid-sentence ('even having'). This omission means the final requirement is not fully developed, which prevents a higher score. To improve, ensure you complete your thoughts and provide a clear concluding sentence to wrap up the letter professionally.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized into distinct paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of the prompt. You have used some cohesive devices effectively, such as 'However' and 'Before reading it,' to signal shifts in your narrative. The progression of ideas is generally clear, though the sudden ending disrupts the flow of the final paragraph. Using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring a complete closing would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'autobiography,' 'renowned,' and 'perceptions' appropriately. There are some minor errors, such as 'resquest' (spelling) and 'reader's contribution' (grammar/collocation). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication or precision required for higher bands. Focusing on more precise collocations and checking for spelling accuracy will help improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'What inspires me the most is his dedication...' and 'Before reading it, I lost hope...'. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'to reader's contribution' instead of 'to your request for reader contributions.' Additionally, the sentence fragment at the end ('even having') indicates a lack of control when attempting to complete complex ideas. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences will improve your performance.

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

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