Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-16

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Student answer (Band 7.0)

Dear editor,

I'm writing to express my concern regarding the increasing amount of litter near my home. I regularly go there for a walk in the evening after returning from work, and I believe that this issue must be addressed.

I particularly enjoy walking near the forest because it is a very relaxing, calm place where I can spend time with nature. Additionally, it gives me an opportunity to get some fresh air, exercise, and take a break from my busy schedule. However, I recently observed a significant increase in the rubbish along the sidewalk. There are some plastic bottles, food wrappers, disposable cups and empty packets scattered around the area. This not only makes our place unpleasant but also harmful to our ecosystem and wildlife, and pollutes the environment.

I believe several measures should be taken to deal with this issue. Firstly, different-coloured bins must be installed for throwing recyclables and non-recyclable garbage. Secondly, there should be a fine of approximately $500–$1,000 for those who throw garbage. Moreover, the city council must organize regular cleaning campaigns.

I hope this newspaper will raise awareness among citizens and encourage the authorities to take proper action.

Yours faithfully

Mamta

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter effectively covers all parts of the prompt, successfully adopting an appropriate semi-formal tone suitable for a letter to a newspaper editor. The student clearly states the purpose of the letter in the opening paragraph by expressing concern over the increasing amount of litter near their home. Furthermore, the description of the problem near the forest is well-elaborated, and the suggested measures—such as installing different-coloured bins, imposing heavy fines, and organizing council cleaning campaigns—are fully relevant and well-developed. The position is clear throughout the response, and the overall communication purpose is completely achieved, fitting comfortably within the Band 7 criteria for thoroughly covering all prompt requirements with appropriate tone and developed ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter demonstrates clear logical organization and progression throughout. The response is properly structured with appropriate paragraphing, starting with a polite salutation and statement of purpose, moving through the description of the problem and proposed solutions, and concluding with a suitable sign-off. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'However', 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Moreover' are used effectively to guide the reader through the text, although they lean slightly towards being mechanical at times. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to separate the introduction, the context/problem, the solutions, and the conclusion, ensuring a smooth flow of ideas that aligns well with the Band 7 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student displays a sufficient range of vocabulary with good flexibility and precision, successfully using less common lexical items such as 'ecosystem', 'wildlife', 'recyclables', and 'awareness'. Word choices are generally appropriate for describing environmental issues, as seen in phrases like 'significant increase in the rubbish' and 'scattered around the area'. There are occasional slight awkwardnesses, such as 'makes our place unpleasant' instead of 'makes our neighborhood unpleasant', but these errors do not impede communication. The vocabulary control demonstrates adequate variety and appropriate stylistic awareness for a formal correspondence, corresponding closely to a solid Band 7 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The writing exhibits a good variety of complex structures alongside simple forms. Examples of complex sentence structures include 'I regularly go there for a walk in the evening after returning from work, and I believe that this issue must be addressed' and 'there should be a fine of approximately $500–$1,000 for those who throw garbage.' There is a high frequency of error-free sentences, and the control over grammar and punctuation is strong throughout. Minor slips do occasionally occur, but they do not cause any difficulty for the reader or impede communication. The control of verb tenses, modal verbs, and clause subordination is consistent and accurate, meeting the requirements for Band 7.

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