Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-24

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You recently received a letter from a friend asking for advice about whether to go to college or to try to get a job. You think he/she should get a job.

Write a letter to this friend. In your letter

• say why he/she would not enjoy going to college
• explain why getting a job is a good idea for him/her
• suggest types of job that would be suitable for him/her

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. ,

Student answer (Band 7.5)

Dear Vasundhra,

I hope you are doing well. I am pleased to receive your letter and glad to see that you are asking for my opinion. If I have to choose, I would prefer going for a job rather than pursuing masters.

The first and the foremost, I don't think you will enjoy college because you are someone who prefers practical work over theoretical. I remember how much you disliked the long lectures and the vast note takings during our under-graduate days.

On the other hand, getting a job at this point will be a great option for you. You will learn things by hands-on experience while making a living out of it. I feel, in our profession, practical skills is more important and a lot of employers prefers skills over a degree. After working for a few years and gaining a meaningful experience, you can definitely go for the masters if needed to broaden your roles in the current role itself.

I was also on the same stage sometime ago, so as per my research, you can definitely look for job like an assistant dentist, marketing, or join a college as a lecturer.

I hope my advice will help you. Whatever you deicide, I am sure that you will do well. I look forward to hearing back from you.

Best Wishes,

Raj

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter covers all three bullet points effectively. You clearly explain why college might not be enjoyable for your friend, provide a logical argument for choosing work, and suggest suitable job roles. The tone is appropriate for a friendly letter, and your position is consistent throughout. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific detail or personal anecdotes to further develop your ideas, as some points are slightly brief. However, the response is well-focused and fully addresses the requirements of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each point, and a polite closing. You use transition signals such as 'The first and the foremost', 'On the other hand', and 'I was also on the same stage' to guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between sentences is clear. The use of cohesive devices is generally effective, though some transitions could be more varied to improve the overall sophistication of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for a semi-formal letter, such as 'theoretical', 'hands-on experience', and 'broaden your roles'. There are some minor collocation issues, such as 'vast note takings' (should be 'extensive note-taking') and 'on the same stage' (should be 'in the same position'). Despite these minor inaccuracies, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly and precisely. You successfully use topic-specific language related to career and education, which helps in communicating your advice effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as conditional sentences ('If I have to choose...') and relative clauses. While there are some grammatical slips—for example, 'practical skills is more important' (should be 'are') and 'employers prefers' (should be 'prefer')—these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. Your control over punctuation and sentence structure is generally good. To improve, ensure subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout your writing, as these small errors prevent the response from reaching the highest band.

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