Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-30

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 Editor,

I hope this letter finds you well. I recently came across an article in your magazine that contained incorrect information about my town. I believe it is crucial for your publication to verify news thoroughly before publishing it.

False information can create a negative image of a place and may lead to a decline in tourism, ultimately affecting the local economy. Tourism plays a vital role in the GDP of many countries, so inaccurate reporting can have serious consequences.

Whenever your organization receives information about a particular place, it should be carefully verified through reliable sources. You can cross-check details using videos, official records, and interviews with people who have real experience of the situation. Unfortunately, some channels may publish misleading information simply to increase their views and reach.

I request your magazine to ensure that all articles contain authentic, accurate, and realistic information.

Looking forward to your response

Thanks

Zaid

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student covers all bullet points required by the task prompt well. The letter successfully opens by identifying the purpose (correcting misinformation about the town in an article), explains the negative economic impact of such false news on tourism, and suggests specific methods of verification such as cross-checking through official records and interviews. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to an editor, and the position is clear throughout. Although some points like the general importance of GDP could have been tailored more specifically to the student's hometown, the ideas are sufficiently extended and well-developed for a General Training Task 1 response, earning a solid band score.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter demonstrates clear logical organization and progression throughout. Ideas are logically sequenced, moving from the initial statement of the problem in the first paragraph, to the broader consequences in the second paragraph, and finally to constructive solutions and a polite request in the subsequent paragraphs. Paragraphing is used effectively and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the letter. Cohesive devices such as 'Ultimately', 'Whenever', and 'Unfortunately' are used to guide the reader smoothly through the argument, resulting in a cohesive and easy-to-read text.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate to sufficient range of vocabulary suitable for a formal complaint letter. Words and phrases like 'crucial', 'verify news thoroughly', 'negative image', and 'reliable sources' are used accurately. There are attempts at less common vocabulary such as 'misleading information' and 'cross-check'. While the lexical range is not overly complex, it is used with good control and precision, and spelling and word choice errors are absent, ensuring that communication flows smoothly without any hindrance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional and subordinate clauses such as 'Whenever your organization receives information about a particular place, it should be carefully verified through reliable sources.' Grammar and punctuation are handled with good control, and the vast majority of sentences are completely error-free. The punctuation is correct throughout, including the formal sign-off and salutation. There are no noticeable grammatical slips that cause difficulty for the reader, reflecting solid command over sentence patterns.

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