Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-04
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 7.0)
Hello Pal,
How're you doing lately? It’s been such a long time since we had a coffee. I’m over the moon after hearing about your enthusiasm to study at the University of Ottawa. I’ve completed my Masters Degree in Engineering here and I would like to share my experiences.
Firstly, this university is one of the best in Canada. Ottawa is Canada’s capital, and the city is filled with French people as well. The university campus is spread across the downtown. I suggest you to start learning French as soon as possible. Also, there are a plethora of Indian food options too.
Plus, I made a perfect choice to study abroad here in Canada, as the teaching culture and exposure to industry and professors are simply the best. I’m working in the construction industry and my skill-set directly applies to the real world. That’s not all, I’m super impressed with the work culture, I believe you’ll learn a lot here and grow professionally and personally.
Do you remember our classmate Kushani? She is also in town and we’ll go out and eat our favourite Punjabi food.
I wish you all the best, and keep me updated with your status.
Catch you soon.
Thanks,
Neel.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly identified where you studied (University of Ottawa), described the cultural environment (French influence, food options), and explained the benefits for your studies (industry exposure, professional growth). The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend's sister, maintaining a friendly and informal register throughout. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, providing a clear picture of your experience. To reach a higher band, ensure that the connection between your specific studies and the year abroad is even more explicit, perhaps by mentioning a specific academic project or skill gained.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your narrative. You use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Also', 'Plus', and 'That’s not all' to link your points effectively. However, the transition between the academic advice and the mention of your friend Kushani is slightly abrupt. Improving the flow between these sections would enhance the overall cohesion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body, and conclusion.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using phrases like 'over the moon', 'plethora of', and 'skill-set'. These choices are natural and appropriate for the informal context. There is a good awareness of collocation, such as 'work culture' and 'professional and personal growth'. While the vocabulary is sufficient and effective, incorporating a few more sophisticated or precise terms related to academic or professional experiences would elevate the response further. Spelling and word choice are accurate throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is generally good. There is a minor error in 'I suggest you to start learning', which should be 'I suggest that you start learning' or 'I suggest you start learning'. Additionally, 'How're you doing lately?' is a bit informal but acceptable given the task. The grammar is consistent and does not impede communication, showing a solid command of English sentence construction.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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