Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-23

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,

I am writing in response to the recent article published in your newspaper which aruged that town centres across the country have become increasingly similar. While I agree with some aspects of this opinion, I believe that my own town centres remains distinctive in several important ways.

I agree that many town centres now share common features, such as large shopping centres, international restaurant chains and similar entertainment facilities. As a result, visitors may sometimes struggle to distinguish one town feom other, particularly in newly developed commerical areas.

However, my town centre is considerably different from most others because it has successfully preserved its historical character. The main streest are lined with traditional buildings, independent shops and a centuries- old market that is still visited by local residents. In addition, the town hosts regular cultural festivals where visitors can enjoy regional food, music and traditional performances. These features give the area a strong sense of identity and community.

I would be delighted to offer the writer of the article a guided tour of our town centre. I could show your both the historical landmarks and the lesser- know places that local people value, which would, I believe , demonstrate why our town is far from ordinary.

I hope you will consider visting and perhaps presenting a more balanced view in a future article.

Your faithfully,

Hani prajapati

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You clearly state your partial agreement with the article, provide specific examples of how your town differs (historical character, market, festivals), and extend a polite invitation for a tour. The tone is appropriate for a letter to an editor, and your position is consistent throughout. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, meeting the requirements for a Band 8 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices such as 'As a result', 'However', and 'In addition' effectively to guide the reader. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different requirements of the prompt, resulting in a coherent and well-structured response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, such as 'distinctive', 'preserved', and 'historical character'. There are a few minor spelling errors (e.g., 'aruged', 'feom', 'commerical', 'streest', 'lesser-know', 'visting'), which are likely slips rather than a lack of knowledge. While these do not impede communication, they prevent a higher score. The vocabulary is generally precise and fits the formal context of a letter to an editor well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a variety of complex structures, such as conditional and relative clauses ('where visitors can enjoy', 'which would, I believe, demonstrate'). Most sentences are error-free, though there are occasional slips like 'my own town centres remains' (subject-verb agreement) and 'show your both' (pronoun error). These are non-systematic and do not affect the clarity of your message. Punctuation is generally accurate, though there are some minor spacing issues around commas.

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

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