Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-17

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 7.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing regarding your recent article about the similarity of town centres across the country. The purpose of this letter is to share my opinion about the article, and I would like to provide some further details about the situation.

To begin with, I agree that many town centres look similar because they contain the same large shopping centres, chain stores and restaurants. This is particularly important to me, and I believe it is necessary to bring it to your attention. I hope you will take this information into consideration when dealing with the matter.

Furthermore, my town centre is different because it has preserved many historic buildings, independent shops and traditional markets. Given the circumstances, I believe this would be a reasonable and practical way to proceed. It would also help ensure that the situation can be managed effectively without causing unnecessary difficulties.

Finally, I would be delighted to give the writer a guided tour of my town centre and show its historic buildings, traditional markets and local businesses. I would greatly appreciate your consideration in this matter. I am confident that, with your assistance, a suitable outcome can be achieved.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my situation. I would be grateful for your assistance and look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Jay

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The student has successfully addressed all bullet points outlined in the prompt. First, the writer clearly states which parts of the article are agreed with, specifically mentioning chain stores and large shopping centres. Second, the response explains how the student's town centre differs by highlighting historic buildings, independent shops, and traditional markets. Finally, the letter includes a clear offer to provide a guided tour of the town centre to the newspaper writer. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to the editor. Although some phrasing relies on formulaic letter-writing templates rather than fully developed elaboration, all parts of the task are well covered, earning a solid band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter exhibits clear logical organisation and progression throughout. The response is divided into sensible paragraphs, each serving a distinct purpose corresponding to the prompt requirements. Cohesive devices are used effectively to connect ideas, such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'Finally'. Paragraphing is handled appropriately, and referencing throughout the letter is generally clear and easy to follow. However, some of the transitional phrases feel a bit mechanical and formulaic rather than naturally integrated, which prevents the response from reaching the highest bands. Overall, the structural progression is logical and serves the purpose of the letter very well.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates an adequate and functional range of vocabulary suitable for a formal letter. Phrases such as 'preserved many historic buildings', 'independent shops', and 'traditional markets' are accurate and relevant to the topic. While the vocabulary is generally appropriate and communicative, it relies heavily on standard, predictable collocations (e.g., 'bring it to your attention', 'take this information into consideration'). There is an attempt at less common lexical items, but occasional formulaic expressions are used instead of more sophisticated, precise alternatives. Spelling and word choice are accurate throughout, ensuring that communication is never impeded.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates good control of grammar and punctuation. There is a successful mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'I agree that many town centres look similar because they contain the same large shopping centres...' and 'Given the circumstances, I believe this would be a reasonable and practical way to proceed.' Punctuation is used accurately, and sentence boundaries are clear. The majority of the sentences are error-free, and minor errors are absent. However, the range of complex structures is somewhat repetitive in pattern, keeping this criterion at a solid band 7.0 level.

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

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