Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-18

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 6.5)

Dear sir,

My name is 'X'. Hope you are doing well, and your restaurant too. Let me give you a brief explanation of the journey and conversation we had during our flight journey from place 'A to B' on 'AZ Airlines' on the 28th of last month. You gave me valuable input, which will help me in any aspects of my life.

I'm reaching out because, after careful consideration, I have decided to work with you, which will help me gain real experience. I completed my master's in hotel management and am seeking a chef role at one of your busiest restaurants.

I would be the best fit for the chef role because, based on my research,i heard one of ur restaurant is short on a junior chef and is looking for one. As I have enough knowledge and am thorough with the basics, I would be the best fit for the role and make u proud for choosing me.

Will be waiting for your reply, and thanks for your consideration.

Best Regards,

X

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The candidate successfully covers all three bullet points required by the prompt. First, the writer accurately reminds the recipient of when and where they met, referencing the flight from 'place A to B' on 'AZ Airlines' on the 28th of last month. Second, a clear interest in a specific role is stated, as the writer mentions seeking a 'chef role at one of your busiest restaurants.' Third, the response provides reasons for suitability by mentioning a master's degree in hotel management and thorough knowledge of basics. However, the tone shifts into informal expressions ('short on a junior chef', 'make u proud'), which slightly compromises the appropriate semi-formal letter register. Nevertheless, all task requirements are addressed satisfactorily, earning a solid band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter maintains a coherent overall arrangement with a logical flow from the introductory meeting context to the job application and the closing remarks. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the greeting, the context, the specific job interest, the reasons for suitability, and the sign-off. However, paragraph two combines the introduction and background rather abruptly, and the referencing device 'which' is slightly overused in consecutive clauses ('which will help me gain real experience', 'which will help me in any aspects'). Cohesive devices are generally present but occasionally mechanical or slightly repetitive. Paragraphing is functional, and the letter reads clearly as a single communicative piece.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The candidate demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms related to the hospitality industry such as 'master's in hotel management', 'junior chef', and 'experience'. However, the lexical resource is constrained by some inappropriate register choices and spelling/abbreviation issues, most notably the use of informal shorthand like 'ur' and 'u' instead of 'your' and 'you'. There are also minor lexical limitations, such as saying 'in any aspects of my life' rather than 'in all aspects'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended message clearly, these informal slips and limited flexibility prevent the response from reaching a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses ('which will help me gain real experience') and conditional elements. Grammatical control is generally adequate, and the meaning remains clear throughout the letter. There are, however, a few noticeable errors and punctuation issues, such as the lowercase 'i' in 'i heard one of ur restaurant is short' (agreement error: 'restaurants') and the casual tone affecting punctuation conventions. The majority of simple sentences are accurate, but errors in punctuation and occasional non-standard contractions prevent a higher score. Communication is not impeded by these issues.

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