Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-12
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 Ankit,
I hope you're in the pink of health! It's been ages and ages since we met with each other. I'm really happy to received your letter after a long period of time. I'm wholeheartedly thankful for asking me about this vital decision. Although study plays an important role in our life, the best decision for you is to find a suitable job. As I know, you're multi-talented and hardworking, and have good command on hand tools. If you prefer to go college might be a boredom for you. This is a better chance for you to start you career at this intial stage for a stable livelihood.
If you start working now, It gives you plenty of experience, knowledge, and practical skiils, which would help you in the future for career growth. You can achieve much more things faster than a graduate student of our age.
I would suggest you some of the trade jobs such as plumbing, Electrician, Gas technician, and a builder. I believe according to your passion and interest make you an ideal person for these handy jobs.
If you need any assistance please let me know and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Yours lovingly,
Gurdeep
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly state why college might not be suitable, explain the benefits of working, and provide specific examples of trade jobs. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend. To reach a higher band, ensure that your explanations are more fully developed. For instance, while you mention that college might be 'a boredom', expanding on why a practical environment suits your friend's specific personality better would strengthen the argument. Overall, the response is well-focused and fulfills the requirements of the task effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The letter is logically organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Although', 'If', and 'I would suggest', to connect your ideas. However, the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that transitions between sentences are smoother. For example, the jump between the second and third paragraphs is a bit abrupt. Improving the range of cohesive devices would help the text feel more natural and sophisticated.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, such as 'vital decision', 'multi-talented', and 'livelihood'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'received your letter' (should be 'receiving') and 'good command on hand tools' (should be 'command of'). Additionally, 'handy jobs' is slightly informal; 'manual trades' or 'skilled trades' would be more precise. Despite these minor slips, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly and effectively throughout the letter.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'If you prefer to go college might be a boredom' (should be 'Going to college might be boring for you') and 'I would suggest you some of the trade jobs' (should be 'I would suggest some trade jobs to you'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions and articles to ensure your sentences are more grammatically accurate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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