Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
Dear Jiya,
I hope you're doing well. I have recently received your letter where you asked for my advice about whether to go to college or to try to get a job.
Considering your current situation where you got your ankle fractured and got 4 stitches on your forehead. I believe the best option for you is to not opt for college at the moment. Moreover, I do understand it's quite frustrating sitting at home all day long. Why don't you start working from home?
You are such a creative person, and you have loved makeup since childhood. I would highly recommend you start making content and post it on social media. After a while your account will be monetized, which will help you earn money. You could even start on YouTube. It's an amazing platform to get famous on.
I hope my suggestion would help you change your mind and follow what you love.
Yours Truly,
Srishti
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The letter addresses all three bullet points, though the development is somewhat uneven. You explain why college might not be suitable by referencing the friend's physical injuries, which is a creative approach, but it lacks a direct explanation of why college itself would be unenjoyable. The suggestion for a job is clear and relevant to the friend's interests. To improve, ensure each bullet point is fully explored; for instance, you could have elaborated on why the academic environment would be difficult given the current health situation, rather than just suggesting working from home as an alternative.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the acknowledgement of the friend's situation to the advice and specific suggestions. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the introduction, the reasoning, and the final recommendation. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Considering', and 'which will help' are used appropriately to link ideas. However, the transition between the physical injury and the suggestion to work from home could be smoother. Overall, the information is easy to follow, and the tone is appropriate for a friendly letter.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'monetized', 'creative person', and 'amazing platform' are used correctly. There is an attempt to use more specific terminology related to the topic of social media and content creation. While the vocabulary is adequate, it lacks the variety and precision required for higher bands. To reach a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions that sound natural in a personal letter, such as 'pursue a career' or 'a viable alternative'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical issues, such as the sentence fragment 'Considering your current situation where you got your ankle fractured and got 4 stitches on your forehead.' This should be connected to the following sentence. Additionally, 'I hope my suggestion would help' is slightly awkward; 'I hope my suggestion helps' would be more natural. Despite these errors, the meaning is always clear, and the punctuation is generally functional. Increasing the variety of complex structures would help improve this score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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