Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-21

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 Viraj,

How are you doing?

I received your letter. I read your letter promptly. Now, I can see that you have finally completed high school and are moving forward with a new chapter, either further study or a job.

I assure you that if you go to study, you have to study well for the upcoming four years, and as I know, your performance is not good. Moreover, studying is very expensive nowadays, which makes it difficult for you to pay the fees.

I personally think that a job is the best plan to move forward. Firstly, you will become independent and start earning at a very early age. As you are already aware, you do not have an interest in studying; you are mostly into start your own business. For example, a restaurant, if I'm not wrong!

I would say that you have a very keen interest in cooking and culinary arts; why don't you look for a job as a chef in restaurants or as a cook? Which pays a really good amount, such as 22$ per hour.

I have given my opinion on your options. Looking forward to your response.

Ask me if you have any questions.

Wishing you all the best,

Sam

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained why college might not be suitable for your friend, provided a logical argument for choosing a job, and suggested specific roles like a chef. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and your position is consistent throughout. To reach a higher band, ensure that your arguments are slightly more developed; for instance, you could expand on the long-term benefits of gaining work experience versus the specific academic pressures you mentioned. Overall, the task is fully addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized with clear paragraphing. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Firstly', and 'For example' to connect your ideas. However, the flow between some sentences feels a bit mechanical. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the transition between your points is smoother. For example, the jump from discussing college to the suggestion of a restaurant business could be bridged more naturally. The referencing is generally clear, and the letter follows a logical progression.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'culinary arts' and 'moving forward with a new chapter' are good additions. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'mostly into start your own business' (should be 'mostly interested in starting') and 'pays a really good amount' (which is slightly informal). Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise collocations would help elevate your score. The current range is adequate for the task but lacks the flexibility of higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'if you go to study, you have to study well' (repetitive) and 'you are mostly into start your own business' (incorrect verb form). Additionally, punctuation is generally fine, but there are some minor issues with sentence construction. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and correct verb forms after prepositions. The errors present do not impede communication, but they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score.

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

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