Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-17

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

A friend of yours is thinking about applying for the same course that you did at university. He/She has asked for your advice about studying this subject. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter

• give details of the course you took at the university
• explain why you recommend the university
• give some advice about how to apply

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

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

Student answer (Band 7.0)

Dear Chris,

I just wanted to write to you about the university course I studied. The main reason for writing is to give you some advice about the course and applying for it, and I wanted to tell you a little more about it.

To begin with, I would like to mention that the course focuses on information technology and business intelligence, including subjects such as data analysis, programming and database management. I believe this information is particularly relevant and helps to explain the matter more clearly.

Furthermore, I believe that the university is a good choice because it provides practical learning, supportive lecturers and useful facilities for students. This is an important point to consider, and I hope it will be taken into account.

Finally, you should make sure that you check the entry requirements, prepare all the necessary documents and submit your application before the deadline. I hope this information will be useful and lead to a satisfactory outcome.

Thanks again for taking the time to read my letter. I hope you find this information helpful, and it would be great to hear from you soon.

Best wishes,

Jay

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully covers all three bullet points required by the prompt. First, the student gives specific details about the course taken by mentioning that it focuses on "information technology and business intelligence, including subjects such as data analysis, programming and database management." Second, the university is recommended with clear justifications, noting that "it provides practical learning, supportive lecturers and useful facilities." Finally, actionable advice is given regarding the application process, such as checking entry requirements and submitting before the deadline. The tone is appropriately informal for a letter to a friend, although at times it reads a bit formulaic (e.g., "I believe this information is particularly relevant"). Overall, all parts of the task are well addressed and fully satisfied.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the opening purpose of the letter to course details, university recommendations, and finally application advice. Cohesive devices are used adequately and appropriately, such as "To begin with," "Furthermore," and "Finally," which guide the reader effectively through the text. Paragraphing is used sufficiently with clear spacing. Referencing is well managed with pronouns like "it" and "this" pointing back clearly to previous ideas. The progression of ideas is natural, maintaining cohesion without feeling overly mechanical, resulting in a solid performance for this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates an adequate and sufficient range of vocabulary for a general letter. Appropriate terminology related to higher education and IT is used, such as "business intelligence," "data analysis," "database management," and "entry requirements." However, the vocabulary tends to be somewhat safe and relies on standard phrases like "good choice," "useful facilities," and "important point." There are occasional instances of slightly repetitive phrasing and formulaic bureaucratic filler (e.g., "lead to a satisfactory outcome"), which prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Spelling and word choice are accurate throughout, ensuring that communication is never hindered.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The writer demonstrates good control over grammar and punctuation. There is a healthy mix of simple and complex sentence structures, featuring relative clauses and participial phrases, such as "the university is a good choice because it provides practical learning..." and "Thanks again for taking the time to read my letter." Sentences are generally well-constructed, and the majority of sentences are error-free. Punctuation is accurate, and commas are handled properly in introductory phrases and lists. Although the range of structures is slightly standard and lacks the more ambitious complex forms seen at higher bands, the accuracy is commendable with no major grammatical slips.

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

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