Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-09-19

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 7.5)

Dear Jhon,

I am really looking forward to your visit and I am sorry that I won't be at home when you arrive in the morning. However, I have made a few arrangemnets to make your arrival as convenient as possible.

I have left a spare key with my neighbour, Mrs Patel, who lives in the apartment next door. When you arrive, simply knock on her door and tell her that you are my relative. She will give you the key and explain how to get into my apartment. Once you are inside, please make yourself comfortable and feel to have some breakfast or rest after your journey.

From the train station, you can take the number 5 bus, which stops just a few minutes from my building. Alternatively, you could take a taxi if you have heavy luggage. I have sent you my adress and the bus-stop details on your phone, so you should have no trouble finding the place.

Unfortunately, I have to work during the day, but I should be home at around 6:00 p.m. oonce I get back, we can have dinner together at a nice restaurant nearby. Afterward, we could take a walk around the city centre and prehaps stop at a cafe for some dessert. I am sure it will be a lovely way to catch up after such a long time.

Please call me if you have any difficulty finding the house or collecting the key. Have a safe journey, and I will see you in the evening.

Best wishes,

Hani Prajapati

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully and effectively addresses all bullet points outlined in the task instructions. First, the writer clearly explains the arrangements made to obtain the key through the neighbour, Mrs Patel, giving precise instructions on what to do upon arrival. Second, the relative is provided with clear travel guidance from the train station, including bus and taxi options. Finally, the writer states the expected return time of 6:00 p.m. and suggests a logical and engaging evening plan involving dinner and a walk. The tone is appropriately warm, polite, and semi-formal, perfectly fitting a letter to a relative. All parts of the prompt are well-developed and communicated with clarity, earning a strong band score for task achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized into well-structured paragraphs, each addressing a distinct aspect of the prompt. Cohesion is managed very effectively through natural transitional phrases such as 'However', 'When you arrive', 'From the train station', and 'Alternatively'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the key arrangement, travel directions, and evening plans. Referencing is clear throughout, with pronouns and names used accurately to guide the reader effortlessly through the text. The progression of ideas is smooth and natural, fulfilling the criteria for a high band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary suitable for a general social letter. Natural phrases such as 'make yourself comfortable', 'heavy luggage', and 'catch up after such a long time' are used effectively. There are a few minor spelling slips, such as 'arrangemnets' and 'adress', along with a minor word choice typo ('feel to have some breakfast' instead of 'feel free to have some breakfast'), but these do not impede communication. The use of less common items shows flexibility and good control over lexical style.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional and temporal clauses such as 'Once you are inside, please make yourself comfortable' and 'if you have heavy luggage'. The majority of sentences are grammatically sound and well-constructed. There are a few minor mechanical and typographical errors, including a capitalization error at the beginning of the text ('Dear Jhon') and a couple of punctuation or capitalization slips mid-sentence like 'oonce' and 'prehaps'. However, these errors are occasional and do not detract from the overall clarity and grammatical control of the writing.

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

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