Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-12

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 7.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to provide a contribution on 'The book that influenced me most' for your article in a magazine.

I recently read a self-development book called 'Dear Universe' by Sarah Prout. The main purpose of this book is positive thinking, manifestation and personal growth. This book encouraged me to be aware of my thoughts and believe in my abilities. 'Dear Universe' book had a positive impact on me because some of the ideas in the book are about setting goals and overcome challenges when things does not go according to the plan. I found this book quite motivating, especially during stressful periods. In addition, it reminded me to focus on what I can control rather than constantly worrying about the future. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy personal-development books and want some motivation in their daily lives.

Thank you for considering my contributions for your upcoming article.

I look forward to my thoughts on your magazine.

Yours faithfully,

Payal Bhakta

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You address all three requested points: you identify the book and its subject, explain its effect on your thinking, and indicate who might benefit from it. The examples about setting goals, facing challenges, and focusing on what you can control make your personal response clear and relevant. The recommendation also gives the editor a useful sense of its potential appeal. To develop the ideas further, explain one specific way you applied an idea from the book, or give a concrete example of a reader who might be influenced and why. The closing sentence, “I look forward to my thoughts on your magazine,” does not express a clear purpose; a more direct sign-off would make the letter feel complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter follows a clear sequence: you introduce your purpose, describe the book and its influence, recommend it, and close politely. Linking phrases such as “In addition” help show how the ideas connect, and the progression is easy to follow. The main body is presented as one long paragraph, however, so separating the book’s content from its personal impact and recommendation would make the organisation more deliberate. Some connections could also be more precise: the shift from the book’s general purpose to its effect on you is understandable, but a clearer transition would strengthen the flow. The final sentence is difficult to interpret, which weakens the otherwise clear closing.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of vocabulary for a personal letter, including “self-development,” “manifestation,” “personal growth,” “motivating,” and “stressful periods.” These choices communicate the book’s themes and your response clearly, and the tone is generally appropriate for a magazine editor. Some phrasing is less natural or precise, such as “provide a contribution on” and “personal-development books”; more idiomatic collocations would improve fluency. “I look forward to my thoughts on your magazine” is also unclear in meaning. To show greater flexibility, vary repeated references to “book” and use more precise language when describing the ideas and their practical effect, while keeping the wording natural rather than overly formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use both simple and more developed sentence forms, including the sentence beginning “In addition, it reminded me…” and the clause “when things does not go according to the plan.” Most of the message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors prevent consistently accurate control. In that clause, the subject “things” requires “do,” and the sentence also needs a parallel form: “setting goals and overcoming challenges.” The phrase “'Dear Universe' book” needs a determiner, such as “The book 'Dear Universe'.” Your closing sentence, “I look forward to my thoughts,” is grammatically formed but does not express the intended meaning clearly. Check agreement, articles, and verb patterns, and aim for a wider range of accurate complex sentences.

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