Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-24

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 7.5)

Dear Sasha,

I hope you're well and I hope you enjoyed your stay at my place when I was travelling around Asia. I'm actually writing to you because when I got back home, I found out something invaluable of mine was unfortunately damaged.

The item I'm referring to is a framed picture of my mothe and I, as you know she sadly passed away a few years ago. It's a gold coloured frame and it is pretty big. Usually it sits just below my TV on the TV unit.

One of the reasons this picture has so much scentimental value to me is because it was the last photo I had with my mum before she died. Also, my dad gifted it to me as a moving in present and he spent a lot of time, money and effort on the frame.

For me, it would be great if you could please take the framed picture to the shop it was made at and refurbish it. If this isn't possible, I would really appreciate a new frame to place the picture in. Please let me know what you think, ps - we're overdue a coffee catch up!

Kind regards,

Niall

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The letter covers all three requested points clearly. You identify the possession as a large, gold-coloured framed photograph, explain its importance through both its connection to your late mother and your father’s gift, and make a practical request for your friend to have the frame refurbished or replaced. These details develop the purpose of the letter well and make the request understandable. The friendly opening and closing also suit the relationship and situation. To make the response even more complete, clarify what was actually broken—for example, whether the glass, frame, or both were damaged—and perhaps acknowledge that you do not know how the damage happened. This is a small omission rather than a gap in addressing the task.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

The information is arranged in a clear, purposeful sequence: you explain why you are writing, describe the photograph, give its personal significance, and then state what you would like Sasha to do. Separate paragraphs help the reader follow each part, and linking expressions such as “Also” and “If this isn’t possible” make the relationship between ideas clear. The letter’s opening and sign-off also frame it appropriately. To strengthen cohesion further, make the transition from discovering the damage to describing the item slightly more explicit, and keep the final postscript visually separate from the main request. Overall, the organisation is logical and the connections between points are well managed.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of vocabulary for a personal letter, including “invaluable,” “sentimental value,” “gifted,” and “refurbish.” These choices communicate the emotional importance of the photograph and the action you are requesting. The tone is generally natural and friendly. However, some wording is imprecise or less idiomatic: “something invaluable of mine” is vague, “a lot of scentimental value” is an awkward collocation, and “take the framed picture … and refurbish it” does not clearly identify what needs repair. There are also spelling slips in “mothe” and “scentimental.” More precise descriptions of the damage and more natural collocations would make your vocabulary more controlled and flexible.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

You use a good mix of sentence forms, including a complex explanation with “because” and a conditional request beginning “If this isn’t possible.” Most sentences are clear, and the reader can follow the letter without difficulty. There are a few grammatical and punctuation issues to refine. In “a framed picture of my mothe and I,” the pronoun should be “me” after “of”; “my mother and me” is the natural form. The sentence beginning “One of the reasons … is because” is also awkwardly constructed; use “One reason … is that” or “This picture is important because.” Finally, capitalise “PS” and punctuate the closing request as a separate sentence. These are limited issues within otherwise effective control.

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