Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-29

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 Smith,

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to you to advise you about learning a new sport.

Based on the information you provided to me about your preference in sports and taking into account your exceptional performance in tennis at school, I would suggest you to learn padel. Padel is one of the most popular sports these days and considering your past expertise in tennis, you'll learn this sport very quickly. It is very much similar to tennis.

Yesterday, our local centre announced that they'll be introducing five padel courts to our local sports and leisure centre within next two weeks. This is a golden opportunity for you to learn this sport. As members, we'll also be offered special discounts. There will be an option of hiring a coach for those who wish to play it at national level.

I played this sport once and I really enjoyed it. We can also learn and play it together. It requires a lot of stamina and the good news is that both of us train in the gym regularly, and already have good stamina.

I look forward to learning and playing this sport together.

Many thanks,

Asad

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The response fully and effectively addresses all bullet points of the task. You successfully recommended padel as a suitable sport, explaining your choice by connecting it to your friend's past experience with tennis. You also clearly explained how your friend could learn this sport by mentioning the introduction of new local courts, special member discounts, and the option to hire a coach. Furthermore, you naturally suggested learning and playing the sport together, noting shared interests like regular gym training and stamina. The tone is appropriate for an email to a friend, and all ideas are well-developed and supported. This performance aligns comfortably with the Band 8 criteria.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The email has a clear logical progression from the opening greeting to the final sign-off. Paragraphing is used effectively, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct idea, such as the recommendation, learning opportunities, and playing together. Cohesive devices are managed well, using referencing such as 'This is a golden opportunity' and 'It is very much similar' to link ideas smoothly. While paragraphing and transitions are natural, cohesion is slightly straightforward rather than completely seamless, preventing it from reaching the highest band. Overall, the organisation supports clear and easy reading.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary for the task. Phrases like 'exceptional performance', 'golden opportunity', and 'stamina' show good control over common and less common lexical items. There is appropriate use of sports-related terminology. However, there are minor awkward collocations, such as 'advise you about learning' instead of 'advise you on learning', and 'preference in sports' rather than 'sporting preferences'. These occasional inaccuracies do not impede communication, placing the response solidly in the Band 7 category.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional and relative clauses like 'taking into account your exceptional performance' and 'for those who wish to play it'. The majority of sentences are grammatically accurate. There is one minor grammatical miscue in 'I would suggest you to learn padel', where 'suggest that you learn' or 'suggest learning' would be more standard. Punctuation is accurate, and control over grammar is strong throughout, reflecting the Band 7 descriptors.

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