Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-13

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have just read an article in a national newspaper which claims that town centres in your country all look very similar to each other. You don't fully agree with this opinion.

Write a letter to the editor of the newspaper. In your letter

• say which points in the article you agree with
• explain ways in which your town centre is different from most other town centres
• offer to give a guided tour of your town to the writer of the article

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 7.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing in response to an article published in your newspaper claiming that town centres across the country are identical. Although many of the towns have similar commercial features, it does not necessarily mean they are increasingly the same.

I agree that many of the towns have the same retail shopping complexes, fast-food chains, etcetera. But it does not mean that the towns are losing their cultural heritage and history. Every town has some unique features to offer.

The town centre in my area is built around a temple which is almost a century old, adding historical value to the town centre. Moreover, there is a walking trail on the bank of a river within walking distance of the shopping centre, which offers scenic views to both the residents and visitors.

I would like to arrange a guided tour for the writer of the article at their convenience to provide insights about my beautiful town and for a change of perspective.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you so much for your consideration.

Yours faithfully,

Darren Keams

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task effectively. You clearly identified the points of agreement regarding commercial similarities, provided specific, relevant examples of how your town differs (the temple and the river trail), and included a polite offer for a guided tour. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a newspaper editor, and your position is consistent throughout. To reach a higher band, ensure that your development of ideas is slightly more detailed; for instance, you could have briefly explained how the temple or the trail contributes to the town's unique identity beyond just their existence.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which makes the letter easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'Although,' 'Moreover,' and 'In response to' to link your ideas effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter. To improve, you could vary your transition markers slightly more to avoid a somewhat mechanical feel, but overall, the flow of information is smooth and coherent throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the task. Phrases like 'commercial features,' 'cultural heritage,' and 'change of perspective' are used correctly and fit the formal context well. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it lacks a degree of sophistication or 'less common' lexical items that would push the score into the 8.0+ range. The word choice is precise enough to convey your meaning without any ambiguity, and there are no spelling or word-formation errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your grammar is generally strong, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinate clauses effectively, such as in the sentence 'Although many of the towns have similar commercial features, it does not necessarily mean they are increasingly the same.' The punctuation is accurate, and the sentence construction is clear. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice constructions, to demonstrate greater flexibility.

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

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