Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-28

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 recommend a remarkable book that has had a great influence on my life. After reading your request for contributions for your article, a book called "The Power Of The Subconscious Mind" came to mind.

This book is all about how our mind works, and how the subconscious mind influences the conscious mind and our reactions to different situations. Its detailed explanations teach how to control overthinking and avoid negative thoughts. It demonstrates clearly that the human mind can create fears and worries that are not based on reality.

This book has significantly changed my personality and outlook on life. Unlike in past, I now try to focus more on positive aspects of the life rather than constantly worrying about negative consequences. It has also helped me become confident and develop a positive attitude towards every challenge.

I would definitely recommend this book to people, particularly to adults who are often stressed about career, family or children. It will help them to understand their though pattern and avoid dwelling on unrealistic worries. As a result, it may help them to reduce stress and increase their motivation to achieve personal and professional goals.

I hope this book is suitable for your article and your readers will benefit from it.

Yours sincerely,

Rahul

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly described the book's content, explained its personal impact on your mindset, and provided a logical justification for why it would benefit others. The tone is appropriate for a magazine contribution, and the letter format is maintained throughout. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, showing a clear understanding of the task requirements. You have maintained a consistent focus on the topic from start to finish, ensuring the reader understands exactly why this book was influential.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which makes the text easy to follow. You have used appropriate cohesive devices such as 'Unlike in past', 'As a result', and 'In addition' (implied through structure) to link your sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the message. The flow between the introduction, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion is smooth and natural, demonstrating a good command of organizational structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the context. Phrases like 'subconscious mind', 'outlook on life', and 'dwelling on unrealistic worries' show a solid grasp of topic-specific language. While the vocabulary is generally accurate and natural, there are minor opportunities to use more sophisticated collocations to reach a higher band. For instance, 'great influence' is correct but could be elevated. Overall, your word choice is precise enough to convey your meaning clearly and effectively without any confusion for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar is generally strong. There are a few minor slips, such as 'Unlike in past' (should be 'the past') and 'focus more on positive aspects of the life' (should be 'of life'). However, these are rare and do not impede communication. Your use of punctuation is generally accurate, and the sentence variety helps maintain the reader's interest throughout the letter.

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