Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-10-24

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

New neighbours have recently moved into the house/flat next door to where you live. You have examinations soon, but your neighbours play music late at night which is affecting your studies and sleep.

• explain what the problem is
• why it is causing you difficulties
• what action you would like them to take

Student answer (Band 7.0)

Dear Kathy,

I am your next door neighbor and I am writing this letter to inform you about something that has been bothering me lately. I have been experiencing really loud music coming from your apartment which is directly above mine, specially after midnight and it has been interfering with my sleep and study schedule.

As I am a final year medical student, my annual examinations are starting in 2 weeks. Along with this I am volunteering at a local childrens shelter as well in the mornings, which leaves me no time for preparation during the day. The only time I get to myself is after midnight when everyone is asleep and there are no distractions such as loud music or noise of traffic jams.

I would like to request you to play the music at a lesser volume so you can also enjoy your music while I can get done with my exam preparation.

Kind regards

Mk

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter addresses all three points: it identifies late-night music from the neighbour’s apartment, explains the effect on sleep and exam preparation, and asks for the volume to be reduced. The context of upcoming medical examinations and morning volunteering gives the request a clear, personal rationale, while the polite opening and closing suit the purpose. The main limitation is that the explanation of study time is not entirely clear: saying the only time available is after midnight sits awkwardly beside the claim that the music disrupts sleep. Clarify whether you need quiet earlier in the evening to study, or whether the noise is preventing you from sleeping before morning commitments. A more specific request about quiet hours would also strengthen the action requested.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The letter follows a clear progression from introducing the problem, to explaining its impact, to making a request. Paragraphing supports this sequence, and links such as “As” and “Along with this” help connect the circumstances to the difficulty. The reader can follow the overall message without effort. Some connections could be more precise, however: “Along with this” does not clearly show how volunteering relates to the lack of preparation time, and the shift from needing quiet after midnight to describing disrupted sleep makes the reasoning less smooth. Use more explicit links to show cause and effect, and separate the study and sleep consequences if necessary. The closing is appropriate, though a brief sentence inviting the neighbour to discuss a suitable arrangement could make the ending feel more complete.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of vocabulary for a polite complaint, including “interfering with my sleep and study schedule,” “annual examinations,” and “request.” These choices communicate the situation clearly and maintain an appropriately courteous tone. There are also some less natural or imprecise expressions that limit the flexibility of the vocabulary: “play the music at a lesser volume” is understandable but not idiomatic, and “the only time I get to myself” is informal for this letter. “Noise of traffic jams” is also an awkward collocation in this context. Aim for more natural combinations and precise wording, such as describing the music as keeping you awake or asking the neighbour to turn it down. Check spelling and word forms, including “children’s.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response includes a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, and several sentences are controlled well, such as “As I am a final year medical student, my annual examinations are starting in 2 weeks.” The longer sentence beginning “Along with this” also attempts to connect several circumstances. Some grammatical and punctuation issues remain. The sentence starting “I have been experiencing” is long and would be clearer if divided; “specially after midnight” should be punctuated as an added detail, and the final request would benefit from a clearer structure, for example, “I would be grateful if you could turn the music down.” The phrase “a local childrens shelter” also needs the possessive apostrophe. These are generally understandable, but more consistent control of sentence boundaries and punctuation would improve accuracy.

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

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