Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-04

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 Shruti,

I hope you are doing well, I know you are quite confused about your choice to pursue your studies or maybe try to get a job. I am here to help you. I think you should try to get a job.

I was also little confuse that what should i suggest you but i think continuing your college will waste your time as degrees are now longer than before. Moreover, there is a lot of academic pressure on individuals nowadays and competition is way too much.

I know you have been always interested in teaching field and you have enough experience to join an institution. There is a position open near my place. It is a private school.

I think it is a good field for you and according to the financial situation you told me at your house, this job will be beneficial for you and your family. I can help you to make an application. You can come anytime to see me.

Let me know if you need any more information about this position.

Take care,

Mehak.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task: explaining why college might not be enjoyable, why a job is a good idea, and suggesting a specific type of work. Your position is clear from the beginning. However, the development of your ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument that 'degrees are now longer than before' is a bit vague and lacks supporting detail. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more specific examples or reasoning, such as discussing the practical skills gained in a workplace versus the theoretical nature of college. Overall, the task is fulfilled, but the depth of the content could be improved.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the introduction to the reasons for your advice and finally to the specific job suggestion. You use basic cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'I think', which help the flow. However, the paragraphing is inconsistent; the second paragraph is quite long and contains multiple distinct ideas that could be better separated. Additionally, some transitions between sentences feel a bit mechanical. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph focuses on a single, well-developed theme to enhance the overall structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You use a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly, such as 'pursue your studies', 'academic pressure', and 'beneficial'. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'I was also little confuse' instead of 'confused', and 'interested in teaching field' which should be 'the teaching field'. While your vocabulary is adequate for the task, it is somewhat repetitive and lacks the more sophisticated or 'less common' lexical items that would demonstrate a higher level of control. Focusing on collocations and more precise adjectives would help elevate your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is always clear, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include 'I know you have been always interested' (word order), 'what should i suggest you' (capitalization and structure), and 'according to the financial situation you told me at your house' (awkward phrasing). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band score. You should focus on subject-verb agreement, correct preposition usage, and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed accurately.

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

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