Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-06

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 Rahul,

It's been ages since we last met. I hope you're doing well. I'm glad that you asked for my advice on whether to pursue further studies or to try to find a job. I'd say getting early experience would be more beneficial.

I remember when we were in school, you used to find lectures more boring because of the long theories. However, I've seen you take more interest in the practical lessons. Hence, I believe you wouldn't enjoy going to college again.

Finding a job would significantly benefit you. It'll provide you with hands-on experience, which is so crucial in this demanding world. Many multinational companies prefer to hire experienced employees rather than freshers.

Since you've always enjoyed working in the healthcare field. I'd suggest you look for a position in hospital settings, such as a medical receptionist or medical scribe. Alternatively, you could also look for a pharmacy assistant position. These jobs would be more beneficial to you in the long run.

I know you would be successful, whatever you choose.

Best regards,

Manoj Modi

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. Your position is clear from the beginning, and you provide logical reasons for why college might not be suitable for your friend, as well as specific benefits of working. The suggestions for job types are relevant and well-integrated into the letter. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, maintaining a helpful and encouraging persona throughout. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly more on the 'why' behind your suggestions to provide even more depth, but overall, the task is fully covered.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each point, and a closing. You use cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Hence', and 'Alternatively' to transition between ideas effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different aspects of your advice. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between the ideas is easy to follow. The use of referencing is clear, and the overall structure supports the development of your argument without any confusion for the reader.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for this task, such as 'pursue further studies', 'hands-on experience', and 'demanding world'. The word choice is generally precise and natural. There is a minor issue with the term 'freshers', which is common in some regions but less standard in international English; 'entry-level candidates' would be more universally understood. You use collocations well, such as 'hospital settings' and 'in the long run'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your message clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is generally good. There is a minor grammatical error in the sentence 'Since you've always enjoyed working in the healthcare field. I'd suggest...', where the first part is a dependent clause and should be joined to the main clause with a comma rather than a period. Despite this, the meaning is never obscured, and the majority of your writing is accurate and fluent.

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

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