Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-13
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 Jeni,
I am thrilled that you are considering an exchange programme as a part of your course. During my time at university, I was an exchange student at the University of Toronto. I studied Healthcare Administration. Although it was a challenging decision, I gained a lot of knowledge while learning at an unfamiliar place. Also, they had a great option of 4 months CO-OP as a part of the curriculum.
As you know, the University of Toronto has various locations in Canada. I studied at the downtown location. Toronto, being the most multicultural city in Canada, I had friends from different backgrounds. The most important thing that I learned while living there was to be kind. Canadians are some of the kindest people I have ever met. I also admired the natural beauty that Canada offers.
While living in Canada was initially extremely difficult, I still believe that it was one of the best decisions of my life. Studying abroad helped me gain knowledge and confidence. Also, it helped me study how a balanced healthcare system works.
Let me know if you have any more questions.
Best regards,
KK
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
You have successfully covered all three bullet points required in the prompt. You clearly stated that you studied at the University of Toronto, described what you learned about Canada, highlighting its multiculturalism and the kindness of the people, and explained how the year abroad helped your studies by gaining confidence and understanding a balanced healthcare system. The tone is appropriate for a semi-formal letter to a friend's sister, and the response is well-developed with relevant details. All parts of the task are fully addressed with a clear and consistent focus, earning a solid band score for this criterion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
Your letter is logically organized with a clear overall progression. Ideas are grouped reasonably well into paragraphs: the introduction, the location and description of the country, and the academic and personal benefits of the experience. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Also' and 'While', though referencing and transitions could sometimes be smoother and less repetitive. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to guide the reader through your narrative. Overall, the structural flow is clear, readable, and supports the purpose of the communication effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task with some flexibility and precision. You successfully use less common items and subject-related terms such as 'exchange programme', 'Healthcare Administration', and 'multicultural city'. There are occasional slight awkwardness in word choices, such as 'learning at an unfamiliar place' instead of 'studying in an unfamiliar place', but these do not impede communication. Your spelling and word formation are generally accurate, showing a good control of general and academic vocabulary appropriate for this level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
You show a good control of grammar and punctuation throughout the letter. There is a healthy mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'Although it was a challenging decision, I gained a lot of knowledge' and 'Toronto, being the most multicultural city in Canada, I had friends from different backgrounds'. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the few minor structural slips do not cause any difficulty for the reader or impede communication. Your punctuation and capitalization are also handled well.
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