Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-23

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Write a letter to the local council. In your letter

• give details of how you and your friends or family use the centre
• explain why the sports and leisure centre is important for the local community
• describe the possible effects on local people if the centre closes

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to express my concern regarding your decision to close the sports and leisure center in my neighborhood. The center has become an integral part of our community.

My friend and I often go there for the gym facility, and also take part in other activities. This helps us to stay active and motivated. A wide range of activities is available for people ranging from youngsters to the elderly. My entire family, from children to grandparents, comes to the center and participates in these activities.

This center plays a more important role than simply providing sports facilities. because it strengthens relationships and promotes understanding among community members. People have a place to interact with others especially children and older people who stay home all day.

It would affect negatively the social life of people if it gets closed. The motivation among youngsters to take a part in the physical activities would decline. As a result, they are highly likely to become more dependent on screens. Therefore, I would like to request a reconsideration of the decision to close the center.

I look forward to hearing a prompt response from you.

Yours sincerely,

Rahul

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained how you use the center, why it is important for the community, and the negative consequences of its closure. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a local council, and your position is consistent throughout. To reach a higher band, you could provide slightly more specific examples of the activities you participate in or elaborate further on the 'social life' aspect to add more depth to your arguments. Overall, the response is well-focused and fulfills the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use some cohesive devices such as 'As a result' and 'Therefore' to link your ideas. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. Additionally, some sentences are slightly disjointed, such as the fragment starting with 'because it strengthens...'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring all sentences are complete would enhance the flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'integral part of our community' and 'reconsideration of the decision' are well-chosen and appropriate for the formal context. There are some minor issues with collocation, such as 'take a part in', which should be 'take part in'. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, incorporating a few more sophisticated or topic-specific collocations related to urban planning or community services would help elevate your score. Overall, your word choice is natural and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is good. Most of your sentences are clear and grammatically sound. However, there are a few errors, such as the sentence fragment 'because it strengthens relationships...' and the awkward phrasing 'It would affect negatively the social life'. Placing the adverb 'negatively' after the object would be more natural. While you show control over basic grammar, increasing the variety of complex structures and ensuring consistent punctuation would help you achieve a higher band. The errors present do not significantly hinder the reader's understanding.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.