Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-04

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 7.0)

Dear Ahmed,

Hope you're doing well. I have received your letter asking whether you should start university or get a job directly. I'm writing to advise you that you should skip college and aim to find a job as it's an essential part of life and it's crucial to start gaining experience early on.

I believe that you shouldn't go to college because the job market is very different from academia. In university, they don't teach you areas you need to learn at work. For example, you will not experience office politics, work environment, dealing with a diversity of cultures and other elements that you would only learn by starting a job directly.

On the other hand, getting a job early on will enable you to get enough experience that you need to acquire to be able to land better opportunities in the future. Having first hand experience in the job market is essential to a successful future.

Consequently, I would advise you to start you career in consulting as it's a very promising career. In consulting, you will be able to take over various projects in a diversity of industries, allowing you to build strong experience in several fields. This will open more job opportunities for you as you'll be an experienced consultant in many fields. Also, the biggest companies in the market are within the consulting field, enabling you to build a successful future.

Best of luck and hope to see you soon!

Lina.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly explain why college might not be the best fit, highlight the benefits of entering the workforce early, and provide a specific, relevant job suggestion. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and the position is consistent throughout. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the reasoning regarding the difference between academic theory and practical office environments. To reach a higher band, you could provide slightly more personal or nuanced examples to further extend your arguments, but overall, the task requirements are fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each point, and a closing. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate distinct ideas. You use cohesive devices such as 'For example,' 'On the other hand,' and 'Consequently' to guide the reader through your argument. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. The referencing is clear, and the overall structure is coherent. The use of linking words is natural and contributes to the flow of the letter without feeling mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for the task, such as 'academia,' 'office politics,' 'diversity of cultures,' and 'land better opportunities.' The word choice is generally precise and natural. There are no significant errors in spelling or collocation that impede communication. While the vocabulary is sufficient and effective, incorporating a few more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions could elevate the response further. For example, instead of 'biggest companies,' you might use 'industry leaders' or 'prominent firms' to show a more advanced lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response shows a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar and punctuation is strong. There is a minor slip in the final paragraph ('start you career' instead of 'your career'), but this is a rare, non-systematic error that does not affect clarity. You use a variety of structures, including conditional-like constructions and relative clauses, which demonstrates flexibility. The punctuation is accurate throughout, and the overall grammatical control is consistent with a high level of proficiency.

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

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