Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-26

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

A magazine wants to include contributions from its readers for an article called 'The book that influenced me most'.

Write a letter to the editor of the magazine about the book that influenced you most. In your letter

- describe what this book was about
- explain how this book influenced you
- say whether this book would be likely to influence other people

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 to share my experience of a book that has had a profound influence on my life. The book was particularly engaging because of its inspiring story and meaningful message.

The story revolves around a young girl who leaves her home to pursue higher education. Despite facing numerous financial and personal difficulties, she remains determined to continue her studies. She even struggles to pay her university fees, but she never gives up on her dreams. The book highlights the importance of hard work, perseverance and having faith in oneself.

This book had a significant impact on me. After reading it, I became more determined to work hard to achieve my own goals. It taught me that difficulties are a part of life and that nothing is impossible if we remain patient and committed to our ambitions. The girl's determination particularly inspired me to remain hopeful during challenging times.

I strongly believe that this book could influence many other people, especially those who have lost hope or are struggling to achieve their goals. Its powerful message could motivate readers to overcome their difficulties and continue working towards their dreams.

Yours faithfully,

Iqra

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly describe the book's plot, explain its personal influence on your mindset, and provide a logical justification for why it would resonate with others. The tone is appropriate for a magazine contribution, and the ideas are well-developed and relevant. You have maintained a consistent focus throughout the letter, ensuring the reader understands exactly why this book was significant to you. To reach a higher band, you could provide a slightly more specific detail about the book's title or author to add authenticity, though this is not strictly required by the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the introduction to the plot summary, the personal impact, and finally the broader recommendation. You use cohesive devices such as 'Despite', 'After reading it', and 'especially those who' effectively to link your sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is natural and easy to follow. The use of transition words is balanced, neither too mechanical nor absent, which contributes to a very readable and coherent piece of writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the context. Phrases such as 'profound influence', 'pursue higher education', and 'remain patient and committed' show a solid command of language. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the tone well, it is generally standard. To move into the higher bands, you could incorporate more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations to add variety. For example, instead of 'struggles to pay', you might use 'grapples with financial constraints'. Overall, your word choice is precise and effectively conveys your message without any errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your grammar is highly accurate, with the majority of your sentences being error-free. You successfully use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the conditional 'if we remain patient' and the concessive clause 'Despite facing numerous financial and personal difficulties'. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no significant grammatical slips. The control over verb tenses is consistent, particularly when shifting between the summary of the book's plot and your personal reflection. This level of accuracy and structural variety is indicative of a strong command of English grammar.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.