Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-12

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 6.0)

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter to suggest some ideas that can make the reception area more welcoming.

There are lots of complaints that we usually have about our reception area. One of them is the congested sitting area. It can only accommodate few people. During rush hours, our visitors have to wait outside. Another is the doormats, as our office does not have doormats, which creates problems in snowy conditions.

Reception area has considerable importance because first impression is the last impression. If visitors feel frustrated at the entry point, then even our better service cannot impress them. Eventually, our company's rating goes down.

Reception area can be enhanced by some improvements such as by widening the sitting area. This can be done

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt, covering the complaints, the importance of the area, and suggestions for improvement. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum, which prevents the full development of your ideas. The final suggestion is cut off mid-sentence, leaving the task incomplete. To improve, ensure you expand on your points with more detail and complete your thoughts. For example, when discussing the sitting area, you could elaborate on the specific type of furniture or layout changes needed. Because the response is incomplete and under-length, it does not fully satisfy the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a logical structure, with clear paragraphing for each point requested. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Another is' and 'Eventually', to link your ideas. However, the abrupt ending disrupts the flow of the text. To reach a higher band, ensure that your paragraphs are balanced in length and that you use a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect sentences more fluidly. The current progression is clear, but the lack of a concluding sentence or sign-off makes the overall organization feel unfinished.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'congested', 'accommodate', and 'enhanced'. These are appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. However, there are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'lots of complaints' (which is slightly informal) and 'first impression is the last impression' (which is a cliché). To improve, try to incorporate more precise, professional vocabulary. For instance, instead of 'lots of', use 'numerous' or 'a significant number of'. Expanding your range of topic-specific vocabulary will help you achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

Your grammar is generally accurate, and you use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are a few minor errors, such as 'It can only accommodate few people' (should be 'a few') and 'Reception area has' (missing an article: 'The reception area'). These errors do not impede communication. To improve, focus on article usage and ensure that your complex sentences are punctuated correctly. Because the text is cut off, it is difficult to assess your ability to sustain complex structures over a longer piece of writing, but the existing sentences are mostly clear and error-free.

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

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