Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-10

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You let a friend stay at your apartment while you were away on a trip. When you returned home, you discovered that a valuable possession was broken.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter
• describe the broken possession.
• explain why it is important to you.
• explain what you would like your friend to do.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear _________,

Student answer (Band 7.0)

Dear Aastha

I am writing this letter to address the broken rabbit pot which I saw when I came back from my trip.

It was my prized possession, as it was my last gift from my late grandmother. It holds so many memories of her, as she made it with her hands and hard work, only for me. I can't even put that into words.

I would really like you to bring me another rabbit pot, even though I know it cannot replace the previous one, but I just don't want that memory of hers to disappear. I would really prefer a new one on the top of my shelf, as it was before.

I really don't want this to affect our friendship because I know you didn't do it intentionally, but at the same time, I am a little disappointed, but it can go away with a new one.

Hope I see you soon

Yours sincerely

Aman

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points: the broken rabbit pot is described, its sentimental value is clearly explained, and a specific request for a replacement is made. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, balancing disappointment with a desire to maintain the relationship. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. The response is fully relevant to the task instructions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'as it was', 'even though', and 'at the same time', which help the flow of the letter. However, the paragraphing is slightly unconventional for a formal or semi-formal letter; the body paragraphs could be more distinctly separated to improve the visual structure and readability.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task and conveys the intended meaning effectively. Phrases like 'prized possession' and 'intentionally' are used correctly. While the range is sufficient, it lacks a degree of sophistication or 'less common' lexical items that would elevate the score to a higher band. The word choice is generally natural, though some phrasing, such as 'on the top of my shelf', is slightly simplistic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the meaning is always clear. There are minor issues with punctuation and phrasing, such as 'memory of hers' (which should be 'memory of her') and the slightly awkward 'it can go away with a new one'. Despite these minor slips, the grammar is generally accurate and does not impede communication.

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

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