Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-11-08
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
There have been several complaints about the reception area where visitors to your company arrive. Your manager has asked you to suggest how the reception area could be improved.
Write a letter to your manager. In your letter
- describe the complaints that have been made
- say why the reception area is important
- suggest how the reception area could be improved
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ................. ,
Student answer (Band 6.5)
Dear Mr. Jan,
I hope you are doing well. I am writing to you regarding your request for suggestions about the renovation of the reception area.
Many customers complain about the reception. Especially the waiting area. The chairs are outdated, and there is no television to be entertained with while they are waiting; Moreover, there is no machine to sell Coca-Cola or water.
The reason you need to address those issues is that the reception is the entrance that visitors see when entering the company, and it reflects the whole atmosphere of the company. Have you heard the quote that goes like "First impression..lasts forever", and it is important to reflect a professional and comfortable environment to our guests
Regarding the improvements for the waiting area, the chairs need to be replaced, as it is so worn out and many of them have broken legs. Moreover, you need to provide a water dispenser for cold and hot water. A television will be a great addittion for people during their waiting time.
Thanks in advance. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours faithfully.
Diana
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0
The letter addresses all three points: it reports complaints about worn and broken chairs, the lack of entertainment and drinks, explains that reception shapes visitors’ first impression, and proposes replacement chairs, a water dispenser and a television. The purpose is clear and the suggestions are relevant. The explanation of reception’s importance is supported by the idea that it reflects the company’s atmosphere, although the quoted saying is not fully integrated and the point could be developed more specifically—for example, by explaining how a welcoming reception affects visitors’ confidence in the company. Overall, the response gives a clear, relevant account, with some ideas more fully supported than others.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0
The information follows a clear sequence: opening purpose, complaints, importance, proposed improvements and a polite closing. Paragraphing helps distinguish these stages, and linking expressions such as “Moreover” and “Regarding the improvements” guide the reader through the letter. The connections are generally clear, though some transitions feel mechanical, and the complaints and solutions could be paired more directly so the reader can see how each proposal responds to a specific problem. The sentence beginning “Many customers complain” is also separated abruptly from “Especially the waiting area,” which interrupts the flow. More natural linking and smoother sentence connections would make the progression less noticeable while preserving this effective overall organisation.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the purpose and includes relevant terms such as “reception area,” “outdated,” “professional,” “comfortable environment” and “water dispenser.” These choices make the complaints and recommendations understandable. However, some expressions are imprecise or awkwardly collocated: “to be entertained with” would be more naturally expressed as “to watch while waiting,” and “a great addittion” should be “a great addition.” “Machine to sell Coca-Cola or water” is understandable but could be stated more precisely as a vending machine. The range is sufficient, but greater accuracy and natural phrasing—especially when describing facilities and visitor experience—would make the letter more polished.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0
The letter uses a mix of simple and more developed structures, including the relative clause in “the entrance that visitors see” and the reason clause “as it is so worn out.” Meaning remains clear throughout. Some grammatical and punctuation errors persist, however. “Many customers complain about the reception. Especially the waiting area” is an incomplete sentence; combine it as “Many customers complain about the reception, especially the waiting area.” The semicolon before “Moreover” is not correctly used in “waiting; Moreover,” and the final closing punctuation should be consistent. There is also a missing full stop after “guests.” More reliable sentence boundaries and punctuation, alongside the existing range of structures, would improve accuracy.
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