Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-29

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 the article recently published in your newspaper, which claims that town centres across the country all look very similar. Although I agree with some points made in the article, I do not completely share this opinion.

I agree that many town centres have similar features, such as high-street shops, supermarkets, cafés and clothing stores. In addition, most town centres have busy streets and modern shopping areas, which can make them appear quite alike.

However, my town centre has several unique features that distinguish it from others. It has a number of historic buildings and museums that reflect the local culture and history. There are also beautiful parks where residents and visitors can relax. Most importantly, my town is located close to Niagara Falls, which attracts thousands of tourists every year. Furthermore, there are many restaurants offering a wide variety of international cuisines, making the town particularly attractive to visitors.

I would be delighted to give the writer of the article a guided tour of my town centre. I believe this would give them an opportunity to see some of its unique attractions and understand why it is different from many other towns. Perhaps we could arrange a suitable time for the tour at their convenience.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Daman

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The candidate has successfully addressed all bullet points outlined in the task instructions in a comprehensive and well-developed manner. The letter begins appropriately by stating which points in the article are agreed with, noting that high-street shops and supermarkets make many towns look alike. It then clearly explains specific ways in which the student's town centre differs, incorporating relevant details such as historic buildings, local museums, beautiful parks, and its proximity to Niagara Falls. Finally, the candidate successfully offers to give a guided tour to the writer of the article, fulfilling the third prompt naturally. The tone is consistently appropriate for a semi-formal letter to a newspaper editor. The position is clear throughout, and all ideas are extended and supported effectively, satisfying the Band 7 and nearing Band 8 descriptors for Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

The letter displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving smoothly from the opening response to the article, to points of agreement, followed by differences, the offer of a tour, and a polite sign-off. Cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'In addition', 'However', 'Most importantly', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively and flexibly to link sentences and ideas. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the structure is clear and easy to follow. Referencing is tightly managed, and there is no mechanical repetition of cohesive markers. This demonstrates a high level of control over textual flow, aligning well with the Band 8 criteria.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The candidate demonstrates a sufficient and natural range of vocabulary suitable for the task. Words and phrases such as 'distinguish', 'reflect the local culture', 'international cuisines', and 'convenience' show good control and precision. There is an attempt to use less common lexical items, and word choice is generally accurate. While the vocabulary is not excessively sophisticated or ambitious, it effectively conveys the message without any awkward collocations or spelling errors. The lexical range fully supports clear communication and reflects a solid Band 7 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The response exhibits a very good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The candidate successfully employs subordinate clauses and complex phrasing, such as 'which claims that town centres across the country all look very similar' and 'which attracts thousands of tourists every year.' The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and grammar and punctuation are controlled to a high standard. There are no noticeable slips or awkward constructions that impede communication. This level of grammatical accuracy and variety easily meets the requirements for a Band 8 score.

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

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