Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-28
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 Wade,
I am writing to request for a transfer in the head office in Paris for six months.
I would like to bring to your attention, that my husband is having a transfer from his office to Paris for a project that can last for six months. As you know, my baby is very young and our family dynamic cannot function with one parent being away for such a long time. Therefore, I would like to have a transfer to our head office in Paris so that the whole family can move easily.
Also while I am away, I have requested Ms Sarah to cover on my behalf in that time period. Along with that, I will be available at all times for help as needed. This is quite managable as I have made a proper work schedule for Ms sarah, and she is happy to help me in this situation.
I will be highly obliged if you can help me in arranging this. I will look forward hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
Mahrukh Ali
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
The response successfully covers all three bullet points required in the task instructions. You clearly explain the reason for wanting to work in the Paris head office, mentioning your husband's project and your young baby. You also address how your work will be handled during your absence by stating that Ms Sarah will cover for you and that you will remain available. Finally, you appropriately ask for your manager's help in arranging the transfer. The tone is suitably formal and appropriate for a workplace communication. The purpose of the letter is immediately clear, and all ideas are relevant and adequately developed to fulfil the general training letter-writing requirements, aligning well with the Band 7 descriptors.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The letter is logically organised with a clear beginning, body paragraphs addressing specific points, and a polite closing. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate your personal reasons from your work coverage arrangements. Cohesive devices such as 'Therefore', 'Also while I am away', and 'Along with that' are employed to connect ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Referencing is generally clear, though minor improvements in linking sentences could enhance the overall flow. Overall, the organisation is coherent and easy to follow, fitting the Band 6.5 to 7.0 range well.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use a sufficient range of vocabulary to communicate your message clearly and appropriately for a professional context. Phrases like 'family dynamic', 'proper work schedule', and 'highly obliged' demonstrate an adequate control of vocabulary. However, there are some minor lexical inaccuracies and awkward collocations, such as writing 'request for a transfer in the head office' instead of 'to the head office', and 'cover on my behalf' instead of 'cover for me'. These errors do not impede communication, but they prevent the writing from reaching a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as conditional and subordinate clauses ('As you know, my baby is very young and our family dynamic cannot function...'). There are some grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, including 'my husband is having a transfer' (instead of 'is getting a transfer' or 'is being transferred'), 'cover on my behalf in that time period' (redundancy with preposition use), and 'I will look forward hearing' (should be 'looking forward to hearing'). Punctuation is generally fine, and these errors rarely impede overall comprehension, reflecting solid Band 6 performance.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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