Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-25
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
Your English-speaking friend who lives in your town has asked for your advice about learning a new sport. Write an email to your friend. In your email:
- recommend a new sport that would be suitable for your friend to learn
- explain how your friend could learn this sport
- suggest that you both learn this sport together
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ....................................,
Student answer (Band 7.5)
Dear Sarah,
I am delighted to hear from you and really pleased you are asking for my advice with learning a new sport. It tells a lot on how you value our friendship and for this i am grateful.
I will recommend volleyball. Right from our high school days we both have shared some common sport interests in table tennis and basketball. It's less time consuming and i believe you are drawn to a hand played sport.
Considering your busy work schedule, I would suggest you register for the sport within your neighbourhood. The last time I visited i noticed they offer such training and have all facilities on ground. Additionally, I could recommend a coach who is really good at his craft. He trained my brother and I have no doubt in him. I will make the connections so you can make necessary arrangements with him.
It will give me great joy if we could learn together. I initially enrolled for volleyball classes last year summer but couldn't proceed because I was involved in an accident that dislocated my right wrist. However it would be an amazing experience seeing high school friends learn and play together once more.
I hope to get a feedback from you soon and i am always at your service.
With love,
Ada
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You recommended volleyball, explained how your friend could learn it by suggesting local facilities and a coach, and clearly proposed learning it together. The tone is appropriate for an email to a friend, and the ideas are well-developed and relevant. The response is fully focused on the task requirements, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning. You have provided sufficient detail to make the advice practical and personal, which satisfies the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The email is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow your train of thought easily. You use cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'However', and 'Considering your busy work schedule' to link your ideas effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate for an informal letter. While some transitions are standard, they are used accurately and contribute to the overall flow of the message. The structure is coherent throughout, and the relationship between the ideas is always clear.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the informal context of the letter. Phrases like 'value our friendship', 'at his craft', and 'make the necessary arrangements' show a natural command of English. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication. While the vocabulary is generally accurate and fits the task well, it could be slightly more varied to reach the highest band. Overall, your lexical control is strong and allows you to express your thoughts clearly and naturally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'It tells a lot on how' (should be 'about') and the lowercase 'i' in several instances. However, these are minor and do not interfere with the reader's understanding. Your control over punctuation and sentence construction is generally good, and you successfully use a variety of structures to convey your message. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the minor slips do not detract significantly from the overall quality of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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