Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-09-03
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
A family member is coming to stay with you. He/she will be arriving by train in the morning, but you won’t be home until the evening.
explain arrangements you have made for them to have keys and get into the house
tell your relative how to get from the train station to your house
say when you will be home and suggest what you could do together that evening
Student answer (Band 7.0)
Dear Tom,
I am glad you are coming to stay with me pending when you next semester will begin. I know how intentional you are with spiritual things so I have made a couple of arrangements regarding that. I have placed some daily motivational books for you in the room as well as the praying candles.
By the time you will arrive, I would already be in the office. I have kept the key at the back of the house inside the green flower pot. Once you open the house, the room opposite the diner is your bedroom.
Locating the compound will not be difficult once you follow my instructions to the latter. Once you alight from the train, take a taxi to Utako park. From the park, take a bike to A.Z pharmacy. The first building with a brown gate is the house.
I may be late from work today. Do not bother about what to cook as I have prepared your favourite dishes. I will get some fruits on my way home. And please don't forget to lock the gate.
Wishing you safe travels.
Your favourite cousin,
Florence.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt effectively. You clearly explained the key arrangements, provided specific directions from the train station, and mentioned your arrival time along with a suggestion for the evening. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a family member. However, the opening paragraph is slightly off-topic as it focuses on spiritual arrangements rather than the logistical requirements requested in the prompt. While this does not prevent the task from being fulfilled, ensuring that every sentence directly supports the prompt requirements would make the response more focused and efficient.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The letter is logically organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the visit, which helps the reader follow your instructions easily. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Once you open', 'From the park', and 'By the time', which help to connect your ideas. However, the transition between the opening paragraph and the logistical details could be smoother. The use of referencing is generally clear, and the overall structure follows the standard conventions of an informal letter, making the progression of information easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'alight', 'compound', and 'motivational'. The tone is natural and appropriate for a personal letter. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'to the latter' (which should be 'to the letter') and 'praying candles' (which is slightly unnatural; 'prayer candles' would be more standard). Despite these small inaccuracies, your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly and effectively throughout the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'By the time you will arrive, I would already be in the office.' There are some grammatical errors, particularly with tense usage, such as 'pending when you next semester will begin' and 'I would already be in the office' (which should be 'I will already be'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the sentence variety is sufficient to maintain the reader's interest throughout the letter.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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