Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-17

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You work for an international company. You have seen an advertisement for a training course which will be useful for your job.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter

• describe the training course you want to do
• explain what the company could do to help you
• say how the course will be useful for your job

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear sir,

I am writing to ask for your permission to attend a training course that I believe would be useful foe my job.

I recently saw an advertisement for a computer and communication skills course. It is a two week course and it includes lessons on using office software, writing professional emails and communicating with customers. I am interested in joining this course because these skills are important in my daily work.

I would be greatful if company could help me by paying the course fee. If possible I would also do over time work, after attend the classes. I will make sure my work is completed on time.

This course will help me improve my computer skills and communicate more confidently with team members and customers. I believe the knowledge I gain will be useful not only me but also for the company.

I am looking forward to your reply.

Your faithfully,

Nitin

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The candidate successfully covers all three bullet points required in the prompt. First, the training course is clearly described as a two-week computer and communication skills course focusing on office software and customer communication. Second, the student explains what the company could do by asking them to help pay the course fee. Finally, the utility of the course is addressed by explaining how it will improve daily tasks and boost confidence when dealing with team members and customers. The tone of the letter is appropriate, and the purpose is clear throughout. Minor spelling errors such as 'foe' instead of 'for' do not detract from the overall coverage. Because all aspects of the prompt are fully and clearly addressed, this performance aligns well with the Band 7 requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter exhibits a clear, logical organisation and progression from the opening statement of purpose down to the closing sign-off. The text is divided into appropriate paragraphs, with each paragraph serving a distinct function such as introducing the course, making the request, and explaining the benefits. Cohesive devices are used adequately, for instance through connectors like 'Because', 'If possible', and 'This course'. While paragraphing is clear and referencing is mostly sound, the cohesion feels a bit straightforward rather than flexible, which fits the Band 6 descriptor well. Overall, the arrangement is coherent and easy to follow, allowing the reader to navigate the letter without confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for a workplace request letter, including terms like 'permission', 'professional emails', and 'daily work'. However, there are a few noticeable spelling and word choice errors, such as 'foe' instead of 'for' and 'greatful' instead of 'grateful'. The student also misspells 'over time' as two words instead of overtime. Despite these slips, the lexical resource is sufficient to convey the intended meaning without impeding communication. Less common lexical items are attempted, but inaccuracies in spelling and collocation keep this response at a Band 6 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses effectively as seen in sentences like 'I am writing to ask for your permission to attend a training course that I believe would be useful for my job.' There are some minor grammatical and punctuation errors throughout the text, such as missing commas (e.g. 'If possible I would also do over time work') and awkward phrasing like 'after attend the classes' instead of 'after attending the classes'. Nevertheless, these errors are relatively minor and rarely impede communication. The control of basic grammar is sound, placing this performance solidly within the Band 6 category.

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

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