Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS Predictions Nov 2026 · 2026-11-09

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have noticed that a streetlight near your home is not working. The local council looks after the streetlights in your area. Write a letter to the local council.

Write a letter to the local council. In your letter

• say exactly where the streetlight is and what is wrong with it
• describe how the problem affects people who use the street
• ask the council to get the light fixed

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 7.0)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to inform you about the problem that the residents of the Manang locality are facing. A streetlight near the intersection of Bovaird and Kennedy has been out for weeks now. I believe that the light bulb needs to be replaced because I could see the pieces of the bulb scattered under the pole. It might have been damaged by birds because the bulb is exposed as it doesn't have any safety net covering it.

Due to this issue, the locals have been facing various problems. One of which, the kids used to play near the intersection and their parents used to fell safe as there was light because of that they could keep watch over their kids from their houses but now the kids are afraid to play there because of the darkness. This is hampering their mental health because they can't spend time outside as the reasult they have to play video games or watch TV instead. This can be serious because of the risk of excessive screen time which can cause eye problems.

I would recommend you look into this matter soon and take necessary action required to fix the streetlight. If you have any question regarding this issue, you can contact me directly by phone call to my cellphone or by email which is [redacted phone] and [redacted email].

Yours sincerely,

Bibek

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The letter covers all three required points clearly. It identifies the location as “near the intersection of Bovaird and Kennedy,” explains that the light has been out for weeks, and gives a plausible observation about broken bulb pieces beneath the pole. The effects on residents are developed through the example of children no longer playing outside and parents being less able to watch them. The request for action is explicit: “look into this matter soon and take necessary action.” The explanation of screen time extends the impact, although it moves somewhat away from the immediate safety consequences of a dark street. Overall, the purpose and relevant details are well developed; a more direct account of risks to pedestrians or drivers would make the impact even more focused.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter has a clear progression: it introduces the fault, explains its effects, and then requests a repair. Paragraphing supports this structure, and the opening and closing are appropriate for a formal letter. Linking expressions such as “Due to this issue” and “but now” help show cause and contrast. However, the long sentence beginning “One of which” contains several connected ideas, making the relationship between the children’s safety, their fear, and screen time harder to follow. The final sentence also combines contact details with a conditional offer of further information. Breaking these sections into shorter sentences and using clearer references would make the cohesion more flexible and less dependent on extended linking.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the purpose and includes some useful, specific language, such as “intersection,” “scattered under the pole,” “safety net,” and “excessive screen time.” These choices help communicate the situation and its consequences. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, including “take necessary action,” though some expressions are imprecise or unnatural: “fell safe” appears to mean “felt safe,” and “contact me directly by phone call to my cellphone” is unnecessarily awkward. “The reasult” is a spelling error, while “hampering their mental health” overstates the effect described. More precise collocations and careful proofreading would strengthen the range and control already shown.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex forms, including a reason clause with “because” and a conditional sentence beginning “If you have any question.” Meaning remains clear overall, but some grammatical errors occur in longer constructions. For example, “One of which, the kids used to play” is not a complete, well-formed sentence, and “their parents used to fell safe” has an incorrect verb form. The sequence “because of that they could keep watch” also needs clearer sentence boundaries and punctuation. In “If you have any question,” the singular noun does not agree naturally with the intended meaning. Shortening the most complex sentences and checking verb forms, agreement, and punctuation would improve accuracy while preserving variety.

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

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