Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-19

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have just read an article in an international travel magazine which contained some information about your town that is incorrect.

Write a letter to the editor of the magazine. In your letter

• correct the information in the article
• explain why it is important for the magazine to give correct information
• suggest what the magazine should do about this situation

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 regarding the article I read in the international travel magazine. I would like to let you know that some information mentioned there appears to be incorrect.

First of all, the article mentioned that the town does not have many trees. However, it is completely wrong as there are many huge parks outside of the city center. Many residents volunteer every year and plant the trees throughout the town in order to make their home greener and more ecological.

It is very important for townspeople for the article to have correct information about the town. The reason for that is that citizens would like to give a good impression to anyone who reads the magazine.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could edit the article with the correct information. Please let me know if you have any other questions about the town.

Kind regards,

Elena

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task: correcting the information, explaining the importance of accuracy, and suggesting a solution. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to an editor. However, the development of your ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, in the second paragraph, you mention that residents plant trees, but you could have provided more specific details about the town's actual greenery to make your argument more persuasive. Similarly, the explanation of why accuracy matters is a bit brief. To reach a higher band, try to expand on your points with more descriptive language or specific examples to fully develop your response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'However', and 'The reason for that is' to connect your ideas. While the progression is clear, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the transition between sentences feels more natural. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure effectively guides the reader through your complaint and request.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using words like 'regarding', 'incorrect', 'residents', and 'appreciate'. The language is generally accurate and conveys your meaning clearly. However, the vocabulary is somewhat basic and lacks the 'less common' items that would demonstrate a higher level of lexical control. To improve, try to incorporate more precise adjectives or collocations related to travel writing or journalism, such as 'misrepresentation', 'rectify', or 'inaccurate portrayal'. Your spelling is accurate throughout the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'I would greatly appreciate it if you could edit the article...' and 'Many residents volunteer every year and plant the trees...'. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your grammar does not impede communication. There are minor areas for improvement, such as the phrasing 'plant the trees throughout the town', where 'plant trees' (without 'the') would be more natural. Overall, your control of grammar is solid, and you maintain a consistent formal tone throughout the piece.

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

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