Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-16

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have rented a house by a lake for the summer.

Write a letter to a friend. In your letter
• describe the house.
• describe how you are spending your time there.
• invite your friend to come and visit.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ____

Student answer (Band 7.0)

Dear Tina,

How are you? Hope you are doing well. I would like to tell you about my new house that I have rented for the summer.

The house is located by a lake. The lake is surrounded by trees that make the lake's water cool during the summer. A well-decorated lawn is situated in front of the house, where different kinds of trees and bushes are planted. I can enjoy the beautiful view of the lake from my balcony. Actually, that's the reason why I rented the house. In the morning and evening, I sit beside the lake with a cup of coffee and read my favourite book as well as enjoy the gentle breeze that blows from the lakeside. Additionally, sometimes I spend time on the lawn to enjoy gardening.

I invite you to visit my new house and spend time with me. We can arrange a barbecue party on the lawn when you come. No more today; I hope to see you soon.

Sincerely yours,

Mina

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter clearly covers all three requested points: you describe the lakeside setting and house, explain your routine, and invite Tina to visit. Details such as the balcony view, reading by the lake, and a planned barbecue make the message personal and relevant. The ideas are extended with supporting information, particularly the reason you chose the house and what you do there. To make the response even more fully developed, add a little practical detail to the invitation, such as when Tina could visit or what activities you might do together beyond the barbecue. The friendly purpose is clear throughout, and the closing is appropriate.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter is organised in a clear progression: an opening, a paragraph describing the setting and your routine, and a final paragraph inviting Tina. Linking expressions such as “Actually,” “Additionally,” and “when you come” help connect the details, while the sequence from the house’s location to your activities is easy to follow. The paragraph containing both the house description and daily routine is somewhat dense; separating these into two paragraphs would make the information easier to scan. Some transitions, especially “Additionally,” feel slightly formal for a friendly letter. More natural, varied links would make cohesion smoother while preserving the clear overall organisation.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use enough vocabulary to describe the setting and activities, including “surrounded by trees,” “beautiful view,” “gentle breeze,” and “gardening.” These choices create a clear picture and show some range beyond basic description. However, a few combinations are less natural or precise: “a well-decorated lawn” is unusual, since a lawn is more often described as landscaped or well-kept, and “the lake’s water cool” is an awkward way to express the effect of the trees. “Spend time” also appears in the invitation and could be made more specific. More idiomatic collocations and a wider range of precise descriptive words would strengthen the vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The letter includes a useful mix of simple and complex structures, and many sentences are accurate, such as “I can enjoy the beautiful view of the lake from my balcony” and “We can arrange a barbecue party on the lawn when you come.” Relative and time clauses help vary the sentence patterns. There are a few grammatical or sentence-level issues: “Hope you are doing well” omits the subject “I,” which is acceptable informally but less complete in a polished letter, and “The lake is surrounded by trees that make the lake’s water cool” has an unclear relationship between the trees and the water. Aim for consistently complete phrasing and clearer clause construction while retaining this range.

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.