Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-05

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)

Hello, Dear Sir,

Here, I want to write a letter to the editor about the book that influenced me the most and the name of the book is Hard Work Pays You One Day. In this book, the author talks about how hard work is crucial in our lives, no matter where you are in your life, and that when you work hard for something, it pays off one day. For me, this book plays a very important role, as earlier I did not take things seriously, like what my goal is and what I have to do in my life, but after reading this book, I realized the importance of hard work, and now I am very close to my goal, and I hope I will get it very soon.

According to me, this book would definitely influence other people, as it explains everything very well and everyone can understand it and get a success in their life.

Thank You.

Harwinder Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address all three requested points: you identify the book, explain its message about effort, and describe its effect on your goals. The personal detail that you previously did not take your goals seriously, but are now close to achieving one, gives the letter a relevant and clear purpose. You also state that other readers could benefit because the message is understandable. However, the book’s content and its likely effect on different readers are explained quite generally; a specific example of an idea or episode from the book, and why it might resonate with others, would develop these points further. The response already covers the task clearly, but fuller support and a more tailored explanation would make it more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The ideas follow a sensible order: you introduce the book, explain its message, describe its personal influence, and then comment on its effect on other people. The contrast between your earlier attitude and your current progress also helps the reader follow the change. However, most of the information is placed in one long paragraph, so the shift from describing the book to explaining its influence is not visually clear. The opening, “Hello, Dear Sir,” also combines two different greetings, while “Thank You” functions as a closing without a conventional sign-off structure. Use separate paragraphs for the book and its influence, and organise the letter with a consistent greeting and closing to make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary communicates the central ideas, including “hard work,” “crucial,” “importance,” and “influence.” However, the range is limited and several expressions are repetitive or imprecise, such as “this book” appearing repeatedly and “get a success in their life.” Some collocations sound unnatural, including “it pays off one day” and “what my goal is and what I have to do in my life.” More precise language would help you explain the book’s message and your personal change with greater fluency. For example, you could describe the book as encouraging perseverance and say that your efforts are bringing you closer to your goal. Aim for natural combinations of words rather than adding more complex vocabulary without control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use both simple and complex sentence forms, including a clause beginning “as earlier I did not take things seriously” and a sentence explaining that the book “explains everything very well and everyone can understand it.” The meaning remains clear overall. Some grammatical choices are less controlled, however. In “the name of the book is Hard Work Pays You One Day,” the sentence structure is awkward; a clearer form is “The book is called…” The long sentence beginning “For me, this book plays…” joins several ideas with repeated “and,” making the structure difficult to manage. There is also a tense inconsistency between “plays” and “earlier I did not.” Use shorter sentences where ideas change, and check tense choices when contrasting past and present.

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