Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-19

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. Sidhu,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing this letter to give you some suggestions for improving the reception area.

Actually, for the last 2 weeks, I have received many complaints about the reception area, as there is no background music and no books for visitors to read during the waiting time. Moreover, the reception area is too small and has too few chairs.

I think the reception area is the most important in every business because when visitors visit the office for the first time, the majority of them judge the business from the front area. It should be decorated professionally.

I would like to give you some suggestions on how we can improve our reception area. Firstly, we should provide some books that are related to our products, which may help not only clients to enhance their knowledge regarding our products but also this way we can boost the company's productivity. Secondly, a coffee maker should be installed in the waiting area for visitors. For children, we should provide some drawing books and colours.

I hope you will like my suggestions.

Yours sincerely,

Harjinder Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly describe the complaints regarding the lack of amenities and the size of the area, explain the importance of the reception as a 'first impression' for visitors, and provide actionable suggestions like adding reading materials, a coffee maker, and a children's area. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. To reach a higher band, you could further develop the 'importance' section by elaborating on how a better reception could specifically impact client retention or brand image, rather than just stating it is important.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each requirement, and a polite closing. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Firstly', and 'Secondly' to guide the reader through your suggestions. While the paragraphing is functional, the transitions between the complaints and the importance of the reception could be smoother. The progression of ideas is clear, and the letter follows a standard formal structure, making it easy to follow throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'reception area', 'professionally', and 'productivity'. The language is generally accurate and fits the context well. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, particularly the use of 'reception area' and 'suggestions'. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms or collocations to describe the environment, such as 'waiting lounge', 'amenities', or 'professional atmosphere'. The current range is sufficient for the task but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically sound and easy to understand. There are minor issues, such as 'the majority of them judge the business from the front area', which could be phrased more naturally. Additionally, the sentence 'not only clients to enhance their knowledge... but also this way we can boost' is slightly awkward in its parallel structure. Despite these minor slips, your control over grammar is good, and errors do not impede communication.

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

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