Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 Amanda,

I got your letter and glad to hear that you completed your post graduate studies. There are two options after this, either you can take a masters degree in college or get a job. I believe that getting a job is an appropriate choice.

The main reason is, you will not enjoy going to college because of the theoretical part in your further studies. There will be more research and project work in higher studies, which is your weak part since beginning.

Furthermore, getting work experience compare to equivalent time spent in college is more valuable in our field. Salary of an experienced person is more than one with higher studies.

As you have a degree in physiotherapy, there are many jobs available such as therapist in recreational centre, gym and pilates trainer.

I believe that you will be excellent in your professional field. We will talk when we meet and let me know if you need anything.

Thanks,

Kush

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all three bullet points of the task: explaining why college is not suitable, why a job is a good idea, and suggesting specific roles. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend. However, the development of ideas is somewhat brief. For instance, the explanation regarding why the friend would not enjoy college is a bit generic, and the comparison between salary and higher studies could be more nuanced. To reach a higher band, you should aim to expand on your reasoning with more specific examples or personal anecdotes that justify your advice, ensuring the reader feels the weight of your recommendation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific requirement of the prompt. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore' and 'As you have', which help the flow of ideas. However, the transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is slightly abrupt. Additionally, some sentences feel a bit disjointed; for example, the jump from discussing salary to suggesting specific physiotherapy jobs could be smoother with a better linking phrase. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear, but the use of cohesive devices could be more varied and sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'theoretical', 'professional field', and 'recreational centre'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'which is your weak part since beginning' is unnatural; a more idiomatic phrasing would be 'which has always been your weak point'. Similarly, 'getting work experience compare to equivalent time' should be 'compared to'. While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Expanding your repertoire of collocations would significantly improve your score.

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 'I got your letter and glad to hear' (missing subject 'I am'), 'Salary of an experienced person is more than one with higher studies' (missing articles), and 'you will be excellent in your professional field' (preposition error; 'at' is preferred). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will help improve your accuracy.

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

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