Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-19

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 Dhyey,

I hope you are doing well! I am writing to give some suggestions regarding your next phase of life. It was such a pleasure to know that you graduated with your diploma with distinction.

I got to know that you wanted to purse bachelor's degree in the same college. Although you are capable even to take this course, yet I will advice you to get some practical experience beforehand to enjoy your courses without stress.

Honestly, having some experience in corporate sector will equip you with the skills and knowledge required for passing several high level courses during your degree. In addition, you can make a lot of new connections while working and in future will help you to land a job quickly once graduated.

As for now, I will advice you to search for jobs requiring no or less experience. Even you can try to get some seasonal or short term part time jobs. These jobs are well suitable for naive candidates like you.

Let me know if you need some referals for getting hired and all the best for your job search. Drop me a line as soon as you get a chance!

Best Wishes,

John Smith

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You give a clear recommendation to get a job first and include relevant reasons, such as gaining practical experience and making professional connections. However, the task asks why your friend would not enjoy college, and this point is not directly explained: saying experience would help him take courses “without stress” is only a brief implication. The benefits of employment are more developed, but the suggested job types remain broad—“jobs requiring no or less experience” and seasonal or short-term work—without examples linked to your friend’s abilities or interests. To strengthen the response, explain what aspects of college may not suit him now and recommend specific roles that fit his circumstances.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a coherent overall arrangement: you open warmly, give your recommendation and reasons, suggest employment options, and close with an offer of help. Paragraphing makes the main stages easy to follow, and links such as “In addition” and “As for now” help signal progression. This meets the lower-band expectation of clear overall organisation and shows some features of more flexible cohesion. However, the connection between the college advice and the claim that work will make future courses less stressful could be made more explicit. “Even” at the start of the job-options sentence is also an awkward link. Use clearer transitions and refer back to the friend’s particular situation to make the progression more seamless.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range for a friendly advice letter, including phrases such as “practical experience,” “corporate sector,” “connections,” and “seasonal or short term part time jobs.” These choices communicate your main ideas, and the tone is generally appropriate. There are some inaccurate word choices, spelling errors, and collocations that limit precision: “purse” appears where “pursue” is intended, “referals” should be “referrals,” and “well suitable” is not idiomatic. “Naive candidates” may also sound dismissive rather than supportive in a personal letter. Aim for more natural combinations and precise, encouraging language, such as describing entry-level roles as suitable for someone starting out.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including the concessive structure “Although you are capable … yet…” and the sentence beginning “Honestly.” Most of the message remains understandable, and the errors rarely obstruct the intended meaning. Some grammatical inaccuracies are present, however. In “I will advice you,” the verb should be “advise”; “Although … yet” uses two contrasting markers where one is sufficient; and “in future will help” needs a clear subject, such as “these connections will help you in the future.” The phrase “once graduated” also needs a more complete construction, for example “once you graduate.” Check verb forms and ensure each clause has a clear subject.

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

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