Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-21

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You are planning a business trip to another city. You will have some free time to do some sightseeing while you are there.
 

Write a letter to a friend who lives in the city you will visit. In your letter:
• explain the purpose of the trip.
• ask about things to do and see in the city.
• invite your friend to do something with you during your visit.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ____

Student answer (Band 7.5)

Dear Leona,

I hope you are doing well. I'm writing to let you know that I'm planning to visit your town in the first week of next month for some business. I know it's been a while, and I haven't seen you.

I'm organising a fundraising event for women's empowerment, and as far as I know, my schedule will be flexible, and I will have enough time during the evening to spend with you. I remember when we had a chat last time, you were so disappointed that I didn't tell you that I was in your city.

While I am there, I would like to visit the famous downtown area and the riverside park with you, and also want to shop like a local. I was wondering if you would be available during that period. We can do some adventures together and enjoy the famous food from the historic restaurants.

I'm looking forward to seeing you soon, my friend.

Best wishes,

Kara

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained the purpose of your trip (fundraising event), asked about local activities (downtown, riverside, shopping), and extended a clear invitation to your friend. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, maintaining a friendly and personal register throughout. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the context of a business trip combined with leisure. You have met all the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the purpose of the visit to specific plans and finally the invitation. You use cohesive devices such as 'While I am there' and 'I was wondering if' to link your thoughts smoothly. The paragraphing is appropriate for a personal letter, and the flow of information is natural and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the context. Phrases like 'women's empowerment', 'flexible schedule', and 'historic restaurants' show a solid command of language. While the vocabulary is generally accurate and natural, it is mostly functional. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more precise or descriptive adjectives to enhance the imagery of the city or the nature of your activities. Overall, your word choice is clear and effectively communicates your message without any errors that impede understanding.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. For example, 'I remember when we had a chat last time, you were so disappointed that I didn't tell you that I was in your city' is a well-constructed complex sentence. There are very few grammatical errors, and your punctuation is generally accurate. The control over verb tenses is consistent, and your sentence variety helps maintain the reader's interest. The writing is clear and error-free for the most part, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.