Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-03

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 Vandan,

I am writing to let you know that I am very angry with you because you have broken my family photo.

When I returned home after my trip, I saw that my family photo was not on the wall. I then started looking around the house and found it in the backyard. It was not only broken but also scratched.

It is the most important thing in the world to me because I do not have another photo of my family. The reason is that after gathering at my sister's wedding, every family member settled in different countries. Therefore, this photo is very precious to me.

I would appreciate it if you could have it repaired as soon as possible. My parents are coming home next week, so they will be angry with me if they see this broken photo.

I am looking forward to your response.

Best wishes,

Mahir

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt in a clear and appropriate tone. You covered the three required bullet points effectively: you described the broken item as a family photo that was found scratched in the backyard, you explained its importance by noting that it is your only picture of your family scattered across different countries after a sister's wedding, and you stated what you would like your friend to do by asking him to have it repaired. The response is extended and supported well, though you could have added a touch more detail to your request for action to fully secure a higher band. Your tone appropriately balances expressing your annoyance with maintaining the friendly letter format, fully achieving the purpose of the communication.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

Your letter demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the purpose of the letter and the situation, to the description of the item, its emotional value, and finally your request for action. You make good use of cohesive devices such as referencing words ("It", "this photo") and transitional phrases ("When I returned home", "Therefore", "As soon as possible") to connect your ideas naturally. Paragraphing is used appropriately, contributing to an overall coherent structure that guides the reader easily through your message without any confusion or mechanical feel.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate and mostly natural range of vocabulary suitable for the task, such as "precious", "gathering", and "appreciate". You attempt some less common expressions like "scattered in different countries" and "family photo". However, there are a few minor vocabulary and collocation limitations, such as saying "settled in different countries" rather than "relocated to" or "living in", which keeps your lexical score at this level. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate and do not impede communication at all, showing you have a solid foundation while still working towards a wider range of sophisticated expressions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

You demonstrate good control of grammar and punctuation, employing a variety of sentence structures. You successfully mix simple and complex sentences, using dependent clauses effectively in structures such as "When I returned home after my trip, I saw that..." and "I would appreciate it if you could have it repaired...". There are frequent error-free sentences throughout the letter, and your verb tenses (past simple, present simple, conditionals) are handled accurately. The few minor issues are mostly stylistic rather than structural, meaning your grammar does not interfere with the clarity of your message.

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