Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-21

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 Alex,

Hope you are doing well. I received your letter couple of days ago and I am very much keen to guide you regarding whether to attend college or get a job.

Personally, I do believe as you have already done your bachelors in science in microbiology field it is the right time to explore different areas where you can showcase your talent and get hired. As, you have given your 4 essential years to complete and achieve your degree you might be feeling frustrated of boring classes, assignments and exams so, take a break through it and focus on exploring different job sectors.

Furthermore, you will get some extra income which you can use it years later to pursue your master's degree from abroad. As, there are a lot of vacancies in the laboratory now-a-days which will help you get hired on immediate basis.

Lastly, as you have a tremendous knowledge of microbiology and can easily perform various tests that are needed regularly in a laboratory, which will easily help you get hired at many Government Laboratories. You can also work as instructor at private institution or classes where you can share your knowledge about your field.

I hope I have guided you in a right direction. Looking forward for your kind response.

Yours lovingly,

Binn

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all three bullet points of the task effectively. You clearly explain why college might be unappealing after a degree, provide a logical reason for seeking employment, and suggest specific roles like laboratory work or teaching. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and your position is consistent throughout. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly more on the personal benefits of working beyond just the financial aspect, perhaps discussing the professional growth or networking opportunities that come with a job in the microbiology field.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Lastly', and 'Personally', though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the referencing is generally clear. To improve, try to vary your linking words further and ensure that the connection between sentences is more fluid rather than relying on standard signposting words at the start of every paragraph.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas clearly, such as 'showcase your talent', 'pursue your master's degree', and 'tremendous knowledge'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'keen to guide you' (usually 'keen to offer advice') and 'on immediate basis' (should be 'on an immediate basis'). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on more natural collocations and idiomatic expressions would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'I received your letter couple of days ago' (missing 'a'), 'done your bachelors' (should be 'completed your bachelor's'), and 'work as instructor' (missing 'an'). Additionally, there are some punctuation errors, such as unnecessary commas before 'which'. While these errors are noticeable, they do not cause difficulty for the reader. To improve, pay closer attention to article usage and subject-verb agreement in more complex sentences.

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

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