Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-26

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 James Smith,

Hello! How are you? Hope you and your family are alright. Last year, I heard about the death of your father; however, I could not get tickets to come to the funeral ceremony. I felt bad, and I apologize that I could not be present when you needed a friend during your hard time. Well, I hope everything is well now!

I have been thinking of writing you a letter for a few months in response to your letter advising me to pursue study or try to get a job. To be honest, I would suggest you not go for study because the fee structure is costly for further study, and it will take 3 years to complete. Furthermore, you will not be able to earn during this time, and you are already going through poor economic conditions, as I know.

Although studying further increases your academic as well as personal growth, I would recommend that you get a job. Additionally, job experience will provide you with a new platform for earnings, and as your skills increase through experience, you will get increments with higher posts.

For your betterment, I would suggest a computer work job in the government or private sector, as you are a computer engineer and coding expert.

Hope you get my point and consider my suggestions. I always wish for your better and safer future.

Yours Lovely,

Kinjal Patel

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained why college might not be suitable, provided a logical argument for seeking employment, and suggested specific job types. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and your position is consistent throughout. To reach a higher band, ensure that your ideas are slightly more developed; for instance, when mentioning the 'poor economic conditions,' you could briefly elaborate on how a job would provide immediate financial stability, which would strengthen the persuasive element of your advice.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. You use cohesive devices such as 'furthermore,' 'although,' and 'additionally' to link your ideas effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. To improve, ensure that the transition between the personal opening (about the funeral) and the main topic is smoother, as the shift from a sensitive personal matter to career advice feels slightly abrupt. Overall, the structure is clear and serves the purpose of the letter well.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fee structure,' 'academic growth,' and 'coding expert.' The language is natural and appropriate for the context. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication. To move into the higher bands, try to incorporate more precise collocations or less common vocabulary. For example, instead of 'computer work job,' you could use 'a role in software development' or 'a position in the IT sector.' This would demonstrate a more sophisticated command of professional terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are clear and grammatically accurate. There are minor issues, such as the phrasing 'I would suggest you not go for study,' which would be more natural as 'I would suggest that you do not pursue further study.' Additionally, 'Yours Lovely' is not a standard closing; 'Yours sincerely' or 'Best wishes' would be more appropriate. Despite these small slips, your control of grammar is good, and your meaning is always conveyed clearly to the reader.

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