Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-23

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 or Madam,

I am writing regarding the recent article in your newspaper which claimed that all town centres across the country have lost their unique character and look exactly the same.

While I agree that many high streets are now dominated by the same ubiquitous retail chains and fast-food franchises, making them feel quite generic, I strongly disagree that this applies universally.

My own town is a perfect exception to this growing trend. Rather than modern concrete shopping precincts, our centre has preserved its beautiful historical architecture, built around a cobbled market square.

Furthermore, instead of multinational brands, the vast majority of our businesses are independent boutiques, local family bakeries, and traditional craft shops. This ensures that our community retains a vibrant and distinct identity that simply cannot be found elsewhere today.

I would like to formally invite the author of the article to visit our town for a guided tour, to see firsthand that characterful high streets still exist and thrive.

Yours faithfully,

John Doe

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The candidate has fully and effectively addressed all parts of the task prompt. The letter opens appropriately with a clear response to the newspaper article, successfully identifying the points agreed upon, such as the dominance of multinational chains and fast-food franchises making high streets generic. Following this, the student clearly explains how their own town centre differs by highlighting its historical architecture and independent businesses. Finally, a natural and polite invitation is offered for a guided tour. The tone is entirely suitable for a formal letter to a newspaper editor, maintaining a consistent and clear position throughout. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant details without straying off-topic, easily meeting the criteria for a top band.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The letter displays a clear logical organization and natural progression from introduction through body paragraphs to the concluding invitation. Paragraphing is used skillfully and appropriately, with each paragraph serving a distinct function in developing the response. Cohesive devices such as 'While I agree', 'Rather than', 'Furthermore', and 'instead of' are utilized flexibly and accurately to guide the reader through contrasting ideas. Referencing and substitution are handled smoothly, ensuring that the relationships between ideas are clear at all times. Cohesion is managed very well without feeling mechanical or obtrusive.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The candidate demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible lexical resource suited to the task. Words and phrases such as 'ubiquitous retail chains', 'generic', 'historical architecture', 'independent boutiques', and 'distinct identity' show a strong command of less common vocabulary with an appropriate register for a formal letter to an editor. Collocation is natural and precise throughout the response. There are no notable spelling or word choice errors, indicating a high level of lexical control that comfortably meets the requirements for a high band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The response features a wide variety of complex sentence structures used accurately and flexibly. Examples include concessive clauses ('While I agree that many high streets are now dominated...') and participial phrases ('making them feel quite generic'). The majority of sentences are completely error-free, demonstrating excellent control of grammar and punctuation. There are no noticeable slips or awkward phrasings that impede communication. The control over complex syntax is sustained from the beginning of the letter to the closing sign-off.

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