Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-02

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The younger sister of one of your friends is thinking about spending a year studying abroad as part of her university course. You did this recently, and she has asked you about your experience.

Write a letter to your friend's sister. In your letter

• tell her where you studied during your year abroad

• describe what you learnt about the country you studied in

• explain why your year abroad was helpful for your studies

Begin your letter as follows:
Dear........,

Student answer (Band 7.5)

Dear Khushi,

Hope you are doing well.It's been a long time since I have met Rahul and all of you. I would love to share my personal experience during studying abroad.

I've had my professional year in Germany at Carlton University. As I am a psychology student, I have gained multiple opportunities to attend the workshops by different international scholars which helped me to learn additional concepts as well.

If I talk about the place, I could say that Germany is one of the best destinations for study as they have numerous well-known institutions. However, it not only provides you a better learning environment but also gives you multiple part-time work opportunities. Working and studying in such developed nation broadens your horizon and equip you with various life skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking.

Moreover, international schools emphasize more on practical learning rather than theoretical knowledge which provides you better understanding and deeper learning of difficult topics.

I would recommend you to spend a year studying overseas. Let me know if you need any other information. I am just a call away.

Best regards,

Rajveer

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly identify where you studied (Germany, Carlton University), describe what you learned about the country (the environment and work opportunities), and explain the benefits for your studies (practical learning and life skills). The tone is appropriate for a friendly letter, and the purpose is clear throughout. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific, personal anecdotes about your time in Germany rather than general statements about the country, which would make the letter feel more authentic and fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. You use cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Moreover', and 'as well' to link your ideas effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different topics. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the letter is easy to follow. To improve, ensure that the transition between the personal greeting and the main body is slightly more fluid, as the shift from talking about Rahul to your study experience is a bit abrupt.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, including terms like 'international scholars', 'broadens your horizon', and 'theoretical knowledge'. The language is generally natural and appropriate for the context. There are a few minor inaccuracies, such as 'professional year' (which might be better phrased as 'exchange year' or 'study abroad year') and 'international schools' (when referring to universities). However, these do not impede communication. Using more precise collocations would help elevate the score further.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are error-free, and your control of grammar is generally strong. There are a few minor slips, such as 'I've had my professional year' (should be 'I spent my year abroad') and 'equip you' (should be 'equips you' to match the subject 'it'). Punctuation is generally correct, though there is a missing space after the period in the first paragraph. These are minor errors that do not affect the clarity of your message.

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

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