Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-28

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

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

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

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear Tina,

I hope you're doing well. I am pleased to give advice which is the best for you whether going for further study or getting a job.

There are many reasons why you would not enjoy studying in college. Firstly, you are a practical person who doesn't interested in theoretical portion that is common in higher education. Plus, you want to start your own a small business, so more studying is not helpful to achieve your goals.

Getting a job is the best idea for you because you can start earning as soon as possible. This can allow you to be independent. You can begin a new chapter of your life soon, such as buying a house and expanding your family.

Based on your educational background, the health profession is better option than other fields as you have completed nursing course, and this profession is in a great demand. Therefore, you can apply to hospitals for starting your career.

Please let me know if you have any questions. All the best for your new journey!

Kind regards,

Raj

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.0
Coherence and Cohesion7.0
Lexical Resource6.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy6.0
Overall6.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all three bullet points of the task effectively. You clearly explain why college might not be suitable for your friend, provide a logical argument for choosing employment, and offer a specific, relevant job suggestion based on the friend's background. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and the position is consistent throughout. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly more on the 'why' behind your suggestions to provide a more fully developed argument, but overall, the task requirements are well met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each point, and a closing. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Plus', 'Therefore', and 'such as' helps the reader follow your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the letter feels cohesive. To improve, ensure that transitions between sentences are varied; for example, avoid starting too many sentences with 'You' to create a more natural flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'theoretical portion', 'independent', and 'educational background'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'doesn't interested' (should be 'are not interested') and 'completed nursing course' (should be 'completed a nursing course'). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more precise control over word forms and articles to reach a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'I am pleased to give advice which is the best for you' (awkward phrasing), 'doesn't interested' (verb form error), and 'start your own a small business' (article error). While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding your message. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, as these are recurring issues in your writing.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.