Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-18

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

During a recent plane journey, you sat next to a businessman who owns a chain of restaurants. You talked to him and he suggested that you should contact him about a possible job in one of his restaurants.

Write a letter to this businessman. In your letter

• remind him when and where you met
• tell him what kind of job you are interested in
• say why you think you would be suitable for the job

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. ,

Student answer (Band 6.0)

Dear Mr. Sharma,

I hope you are in the pink of health.

I am writing this letter to request a job at one of your restaurants.

Hey, my name is Harshil Trivedi, an Indian guy we met on the plane. I was sitting right beside you, and we were travelling from Delhi to Mumbai. We had a great conversation, and you talked about having multiple food businesses.

I am looking in the food business from last month.

First and foremost, I have dynamic communication skills. I am able to work in a fast-paced environment and have good chopping skills. I am open to working in flexible positions. Having five years of culinary and food experience at the Taj Hotel.

Hereby, I am attaching my resume along with my cover letter.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Sincerely,

Harshil Trivedi

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter covers all three bullet points: reminding the recipient of the meeting, stating the desired job, and explaining suitability. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which limits the development of ideas. The explanation of suitability is brief and lacks depth, particularly regarding the connection between the applicant's experience and the specific restaurant chain. To improve, you should expand on your professional background and explain more clearly why you are a strong candidate for this specific employer.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a logical structure, moving from the introduction to the purpose of the letter and then to qualifications. However, the paragraphing is somewhat fragmented, and the use of cohesive devices is limited. The transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs feels abrupt. Using more varied linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in addition to') would help the flow of ideas. The tone is also inconsistent, shifting from formal to overly casual ('Hey, my name is...'), which affects the overall coherence of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message, but the register is inconsistent. Phrases like 'in the pink of health' are idiomatic but feel unnatural and overly informal for a business letter. The use of 'Hey' is inappropriate for a professional context. While you demonstrate some relevant industry-specific terms like 'culinary' and 'fast-paced', the overall lexical control is limited by these register errors. Aim for a more professional and neutral tone throughout your correspondence.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex structures, but there are several grammatical errors. For example, 'I am looking in the food business from last month' is incorrect; it should be 'I have been looking for work in the food industry for the past month.' Additionally, 'Having five years of culinary and food experience at the Taj Hotel' is a sentence fragment. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall clarity and professional quality of the writing.

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

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