Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-21

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 6.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to give my views regarding the book that really inspired me, so you could publish it in your article. Although, this book named "Ikigai" was gifted to me by my closest friend to read, I found it really motivating in real life. Its main idea was about the Japanese secret of living, long and healthy life.

After going through all the chapter's of the book in depth. This guide explained me the real meaning of living to your fullest along with, focusing on your inner body needs to remain overall fit. I was really influenced by the Japanese's culture that I started inculcating their habits in my daily routine. For instance , Follow hara hachi bu, the Okinawan practice of eating only until you are about 80% full.

According to my prospect, it could positively affect many individual's life. They can bring positive change to their habits of eating, living, people who they surround with, connecting with nature to live a prosperous life.

I hope you would include this book in your magazine's article and grab reader's attention.

Kind regards,

Kirandeep Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You address all three points clearly: you identify Ikigai and describe its focus on Japanese longevity, explain that it led you to adopt habits such as hara hachi bu, and give your view that it could benefit other readers. The personal example makes the influence convincing, and the letter’s purpose is clear from the opening and closing. Your prediction about its effect on others is relevant, but it becomes broad in the list of changes to eating, lifestyle, relationships and nature; one specific example of how another reader might benefit would develop this point more fully. Overall, the response fulfils the task with relevant, supported ideas, though some claims are generalised.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter has a clear progression from introducing the book, to describing its message and your personal response, and finally to recommending it to the magazine. Paragraphing supports this sequence, while phrases such as “For instance” help introduce an example. The opening and closing also suit the letter format. Some links are less smooth: “After going through all the chapters…” is separated from the sentence that completes its thought, and the final paragraph’s list of possible benefits is difficult to follow. Connect the introductory phrase directly to its main clause and organise the list into a clearer sentence. These adjustments would make the progression more consistently effortless.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of topic vocabulary, including “motivating,” “inner body needs,” “daily routine,” and the culturally specific term “hara hachi bu.” These choices communicate the book’s influence and show some flexibility beyond basic vocabulary. There are also several imprecise or unnatural expressions, such as “Japanese secret of living,” “explained me,” “According to my prospect,” and “grab reader’s attention.” Some word forms and collocations also need attention, including “chapter’s” where a plural is intended and “Japanese’s culture.” The meaning remains clear, but more natural phrasing and accurate collocations would strengthen the control of less common vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of sentence forms, including a complex opening with “Although” and a sentence explaining the book’s influence. However, several structures are faulty or incomplete. “Although, this book… was gifted…” uses an unnecessary comma and leaves the concessive clause awkwardly attached; “After going through all the chapters…” is a sentence fragment; and “explained me” lacks the grammatical pattern needed after “explain.” There are also errors in articles and agreement, as in “long and healthy life” and “many individual’s life.” Punctuation around “For instance” and the capitalised “Follow” also needs control. Practise complete clauses and check sentence boundaries, articles and plural forms.

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