Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-19

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You recently organised an all-day meeting for your company, which took place in a local hotel. In their feedback, participants at the meeting said that they liked the hotel, but they were unhappy about the food that was served for lunch.

Write a letter to the manager of the hotel. In your letter

• say what the participants liked about the hotel
• explain why they were unhappy about the food
• suggest what the manager should do to improve the food in future

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to share feedback on behalf of my company's recent meeting held at your hotel last week on the 27th of July.

First of all, almost all the participants liked the hotel's management. They particularly enjoyed the serene atmosphere due to the gentle music playing in the background. The decor of the meeting ballroom was the highlight of the discussion.

That being said, some of the members complained about half-cooked meat. Others were expecting vegetarian meals. Having limited food options to choose from was the biggest turn-off for our organization.

I would like to suggest that you include a wide range of cuisines for all kinds of eaters. Furthermore, you can ask the chef to serve fully cooked meat so that it is edible.

I hope you will consider these suggestions to improve the food in the future. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Iqra Fatima

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly identified what the participants liked (the atmosphere and decor), explained the issues with the food (undercooked meat and lack of vegetarian options), and provided constructive suggestions for improvement. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly on the impact of the poor lunch on the meeting's overall success, which would further develop your ideas and demonstrate a more sophisticated approach to the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organised with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each point, and a polite closing. Each paragraph has a central focus, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You used some cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'That being said', and 'Furthermore' to link your ideas effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter. To improve, ensure that the transition between the positive feedback and the complaint is even smoother to enhance the flow of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'serene atmosphere', 'highlight of the discussion', and 'wide range of cuisines' are well-chosen and appropriate for the context. However, some word choices are slightly basic or could be more precise, such as 'turn-off' which is a bit informal for a formal letter. Incorporating more sophisticated collocations or topic-specific vocabulary related to hospitality or catering would help elevate your score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The grammar is generally accurate, and your sentences are easy to understand. You have used a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'I am writing to share feedback on behalf of my company's recent meeting...' and 'I hope you will consider these suggestions to improve the food in the future.' There are no major errors that impede communication. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice constructions, to demonstrate greater control over your writing.

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

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