Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-09

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 6.5)

Dear Sonia,

I hope you are doing well. I received your letter yesterday in which you ask for a suggestion to continue your further study in a college or to do work.

Firstly, I know that you are going through some financial crises after the sudden death of your father and you dropped out your study also. Owing to this reason, i will highly recommend you to join any company to build a strong financial status. Moreover, This time your family needs your support so I think you will not focus on your education.

In addition, I have noticed that you have keen interest in teaching line. I will help you to find some institutions where you can apply which will enhance your communication and language skills and will make you independent.

I am waiting for a positive response and sending lots of love for your family.

Best wishes,

Kiran

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explain why college might not be suitable given the friend's financial situation, provide a logical argument for why working is a better alternative, and suggest a specific career path (teaching). The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend. However, the development of ideas is somewhat brief. To reach a higher band, you could expand more on the specific benefits of the suggested jobs or provide more detail on why the friend would struggle with college beyond just the financial aspect. Overall, the task is fulfilled clearly and effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', and 'In addition' to link your ideas. While these are effective, the flow is occasionally slightly mechanical. The paragraphing is appropriate for a letter format. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the transition between the financial crisis and the suggestion of teaching is smoother. The referencing is generally clear, and the reader can easily follow your line of reasoning throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'financial crises', 'dropped out', and 'communication and language skills'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'teaching line' (which is better expressed as 'teaching profession') and 'do work' (which should be 'get a job'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Expanding your repertoire of collocations and idiomatic expressions would help elevate your writing style to a more natural, fluent level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'you dropped out your study also' (should be 'dropped out of your studies') and 'I will highly recommend' (should be 'I would highly recommend' for a hypothetical suggestion). Punctuation is generally accurate, though there are some minor issues with capitalization (e.g., 'i' instead of 'I'). Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout the letter. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of modal verbs for giving advice.

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

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