Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-11

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)

Dear Emma,

I hope you are well. How is michael doing? I recently received your letter asking about the year I spent abroad as part of my studies. First, I’m very happy that you already got the chance to study abroad.

Let me first tell you where I did my studies. I spent the last year in Canada in a small city called Sherbrooke. I did my studies at Sherbrooke university as a part of an exchange program which I found really interesting and useful.

Once I arrived there, I registered for two courses in finite element analysis and modeling. I really enjoyed these courses, but what impressed me the most is the nature of the city and the kindness of its citizens. If I were in your shoes, I would definitely spend this year there.

Finally, you should take advantage of this year because it will change your way of thinking a lot and I am sure it will have a great influence on your career prospects.

I look forward to hearing your final decision about the city. Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.

Bye for now,

Amr

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt: you identified the location (Sherbrooke, Canada), described your experience (courses in finite element analysis and the kindness of citizens), and explained the benefits (career prospects and personal growth). However, the development of these points is somewhat limited. For example, while you mention the courses, you could have elaborated more on how they specifically helped your studies. Additionally, there is a slight confusion in the opening where you state, 'I’m very happy that you already got the chance to study abroad,' which contradicts the prompt's premise that she is only 'thinking about' it. Despite this, the purpose of the letter is clear and the tone is appropriate for a friendly correspondence.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'First,' 'Once I arrived,' and 'Finally' to guide the reader through the text. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different ideas. However, the flow between some sentences is slightly mechanical. To reach a higher band, you could use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'this year') is always precise to avoid any ambiguity. Overall, the message is easy to follow and the progression of ideas is consistent.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'exchange program,' 'finite element analysis,' and 'career prospects.' The language is natural and appropriate for an informal letter. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication. To improve, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common vocabulary to describe your feelings or the environment. For instance, instead of 'really interesting,' you could use 'intellectually stimulating.' Your spelling is accurate throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'I already got the chance' (should be 'you have the chance' or 'you are considering') and the capitalization of 'michael' and 'university.' However, these errors are infrequent and do not interfere with the clarity of your message. You show good control over verb tenses, particularly when discussing your past experience and future advice. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, with greater consistency.

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

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