Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-11

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You work for an international company, and would like to spend six months working in its head office in another country. Write a letter to your manager. In your letter

• explain why you want to work in the company's head office for six months
• say how your work could be done while you are away
• ask for his/her help in arranging it

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

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

Student answer (Band 6.0)

Dear Mr. Smith,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to request to provide me an opportunity to work in the head office for six months.

I am eager to work in the company's head office for six months in America because I am going there to spend sometime with my brother. I can spend time there with my brother without leaving my job, and doing work there.

My work here in Canada could be done by my friend who is looking for a job. Since the company need to hire a person, my friend is a hard-working person, he can learn and handle all responsibilities easily.

I would highly appreciate it if you could make this arrangement for me after consulting with the supervisor. As the company is looking for a person to hire for the head office, you can refer me for that position.

I hope you would consider this matter. I look forward to a positive response.

Yours faithfully,

Jack Smith

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the plan for covering the workload, and the request for assistance. However, the development of ideas is somewhat weak. The reason provided—spending time with a brother—is personal rather than professional, which is less persuasive in a formal business context. Furthermore, the suggestion that a friend could simply take over your responsibilities is unrealistic in a professional setting, as it ignores standard hiring and training protocols. To improve, focus on how the international experience would benefit the company, and propose a more professional handover plan, such as training a colleague or documenting your current processes.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter follows a logical structure with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each requirement, and a formal closing. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different points. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For example, the phrase 'my brother' is repeated twice in the same sentence, and the transition between the request for help and the mention of the supervisor is a bit abrupt. Using a wider variety of linking words and pronouns would help the flow of the letter feel more natural and professional.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the message to be understood clearly. However, the range is limited and lacks the sophistication expected for a formal business request. Phrases like 'doing work there' and 'make this arrangement' are quite basic. There is also a slight misuse of collocation; for instance, 'request to provide me an opportunity' is grammatically awkward. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise business-related terminology and avoid repetitive, simple phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors. For example, 'request to provide me an opportunity' should be 'request an opportunity' or 'request that you provide me with an opportunity'. Additionally, 'the company need to hire' should be 'the company needs to hire' (subject-verb agreement). There are also minor punctuation and phrasing issues throughout. While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the writing from reaching a higher band score.

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

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