Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-29

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 Jim,

I hope you're doing well. I recieved your letter and I read that you are confused regarding to choose to go college or to get a job.

I would like to suggest some of the points, that why you should try to get a good job. Firstly, I know you are going through some of family concerns and you must give it priority, in between this situation, I feel like it will be hard for you to attend classes and you won't get good focus while you're studying.

Furthermore, I encourage you to get a good job and give a positive financial support to you family. I am suggesting you to get a job in sectors such as in a healthcare, a transport or a marketing field. I hope this information is being useful to you.

Thank you for asking me about this matter.

Best regards,

Allen Smith

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The candidate successfully covers all the bullet points required in the prompt. First, an appropriate opening is provided, and the letter addresses why Jim might not enjoy college by mentioning potential difficulties with focus and family concerns. Second, the writer explains why getting a job is beneficial, noting the importance of providing financial support to the family. Finally, suitable types of jobs are suggested, specifically mentioning sectors like healthcare, transport, and marketing. The tone of the letter is friendly and appropriate for corresponding with a friend, and the purpose of the communication is clear throughout. Although some points could be slightly more fully extended, all parts of the task are adequately addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter exhibits a clear overall logical organization, moving smoothly from the opening greeting to the reasons for not attending college, the advantages of employment, and finally the suggested job sectors. The writer uses basic cohesive devices appropriately, such as 'Firstly' and 'Furthermore', to structure the points. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to separate distinct ideas, with a logical flow from one paragraph to the next. While referencing is mostly clear, some transitional phrases feel a little mechanical, which prevents the score from reaching a higher band. However, the progression of ideas is easy to follow and meets the requirements well.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, successfully conveying the intended message. The student attempts some less common vocabulary and appropriate domain-specific words such as 'healthcare', 'transport', 'marketing', and 'financial support'. However, there are a few noticeable lexical errors and awkward collocations, such as 'recieved' (spelling error), 'regarding to choose' (awkward phrasing), and 'give a positive financial support'. Despite these occasional inaccuracies, communication is never impeded, and the range of vocabulary is sufficient to complete the task comfortably.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating an attempt to use varied structures. Examples of complex structures include 'I feel like it will be hard for you to attend classes and you won't get good focus while you're studying.' However, there are several grammatical errors and awkward prepositions, such as 'regarding to choose' instead of 'whether to choose', 'family concerns' instead of 'family issues', and the redundant 'that why' in 'that why you should try'. The spelling error 'recieved' also stands out. Although these errors exist, they rarely impede communication, and the majority of simple sentences are clear and well-formed.

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