Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-28

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 regarding the book that influenced me the most. Recently, I started a book in my mother tongue language, it consist of every emotions i have gone through from childhood to this time.When i am done with one page it keeps me on hook, made me feel like i was reading my own life story and were able to see a different perspective of it.

In addition, this book influenced me in a way that i see the world and problems around me. Rather than being fearful at that very moment this book showed me ways on how to handle the inner feelings and be acting upon it.

I really think this book will be liked by young minds and they all will be able to relate to each and every word from this particular book.

i look forward to hear from you regarding this and i hope the magazine will contibute for the readers.

yours faithfully,

Ann

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three points: you describe the book as reflecting emotions from childhood to the present, explain that it changed how you view problems and manage inner feelings, and predict that young readers will relate to it. The personal response is relevant and gives the letter a clear purpose. However, the book itself remains rather vague: its title and author are not given, and “every emotions” does not clarify what experiences or ideas it contains. The influence is also asserted more than illustrated; a specific example of a changed decision or response would make it more convincing. Your prediction about other readers is clear, but could be supported by explaining why its themes would resonate with them.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a coherent overall arrangement: an opening explains its purpose, the next paragraph describes the influence, and the final paragraph considers other readers before closing. Connectors such as “In addition” help signal the movement between ideas, and the reader can follow your main message. To make the progression more polished, separate the book’s description from your personal influence more clearly, since the opening paragraph combines both. Some links are also mechanical or unclear: “this” in “handle the inner feelings and be acting upon it” has an uncertain reference. Use more precise transitions and refer back to the book or its lessons explicitly. The closing is appropriate in intent, though a more direct final sentence would strengthen the letter’s finish.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary to communicate personal reflection, including “different perspective,” “fearful,” “inner feelings,” and “relate.” These choices make the topic understandable, and there is some attempt to express abstract ideas rather than relying only on basic words. However, several phrases are inaccurate or unnatural, which limits precision: “mother tongue language,” “keeps me on hook,” and “ways on how to handle” do not sound idiomatic. “Every emotions” also has a word-form and number problem, while “contibute” is misspelled. Aim for natural collocations and more specific vocabulary about the book’s themes and its effect; this will make your meaning clearer and more fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of sentence forms, including a complex opening sentence and clauses introduced by “Rather than” and “that.” The main message is generally recoverable, but grammatical control is uneven, and errors sometimes make the reader pause. For example, “it consist” needs subject–verb agreement and a consistent tense; “When i am done … it keeps me … made me feel” shifts tense and does not maintain a clear sentence structure. In “I look forward to hear,” the verb pattern should be “look forward to hearing.” Capitalisation and punctuation also need attention, especially the lowercase “i” and the run-on spacing after “time.” Practise accurate tense control and build complex sentences around one clear main clause.

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