Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-03

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You recently received a letter from a friend asking for advice about whether to go to college or to try to get a job. You think he/she should get a job.

Write a letter to this friend. In your letter

• say why he/she would not enjoy going to college
• explain why getting a job is a good idea for him/her
• suggest types of job that would be suitable for him/her

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. ,

Student answer (Band 6.0)

Dear Grace,

First of all, I am very happy to give you some advice about your career plan. As you have completed your 12th and I can understand that you may have confusion about whether going to college or getting a job. I think getting a job is good idea rather than going to college.

Because you will have to pay nearly twenty thousand dollars as your study fees and it is not confirmed that you are going to get a good job after completed studies.

If you get a job, then you can easily manage your expenses. Moreover, skill is more important in these days.

Furthermore, you have learnt a fabric sewing skill then it will be easy for you to get a job in this field and you can start a small business after working for a few days at your home.

Finally, I wish you a good luck for you, and I hope you will get your first job quickly.

Thanks

Poonam

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly state your preference for working over college, explain the financial and career-related risks of further study, and suggest a specific job in fabric sewing. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For example, the explanation regarding why your friend would not enjoy college is brief and focuses primarily on cost rather than the personal experience of college life. To reach a higher band, try to expand on your reasoning with more descriptive detail or personal anecdotes that support your advice, ensuring the tone remains consistently appropriate for a letter to a friend.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the introduction to the specific advice and concluding with a friendly sign-off. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'Finally' to link your ideas. While these are effective, the flow between sentences is sometimes a bit mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the transition between your points feels more natural. Paragraphing is present, but the structure could be improved by grouping the financial arguments and the career suggestions into distinct, well-developed paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'career plan', 'manage your expenses', and 'fabric sewing skill'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'completed your 12th' (which should be 'finished your 12th grade') and 'good luck for you' (which is redundant). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. To improve, focus on learning common collocations and using more sophisticated synonyms to express your ideas, rather than relying on basic phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For instance, 'I can understand that you may have confusion' is slightly unnatural, and 'after completed studies' should be 'after completing your studies'. Additionally, there are minor issues with articles and prepositions, such as 'in these days' instead of 'these days'. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tense usage.

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

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