Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-02

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 9.0)

Dear Sam ,It was great to hear from you, and I am glad you reached out. I have been thinking a lot about your dilemma regarding whether to go to college or start working. If you want my honest advice, I strongly believe that getting a job right now is the best move for you. To be frank, I do not think you would enjoy going to college at this stage. You have always been someone who prefers practical, hands-on activities over sitting through long lectures. College involves a massive amount of theoretical study, endless essay writing, and stressful exams, which I know would quickly drain your enthusiasm and leave you feeling frustrated. On the other hand, entering the workforce immediately offers huge benefits. It will give you financial independence and allow you to start earning your own money right away. More importantly, you will gain real-world experience and develop practical skills that employers value much more than a textbook degree. Given your excellent communication skills and outgoing personality, I think a role in customer service or retail sales would suit you perfectly. Alternatively, since you have always been great with technology, you could look into entry-level IT support or digital marketing assistant roles. Both fields would allow you to learn on the job and climb the ladder quickly. Let me know what you think of these ideas. We should meet up for coffee next week to chat about this in more detail!

Warm wishes,

Satveer

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explain why college might not be enjoyable for your friend, citing their preference for practical work over theory. You provide a strong rationale for choosing employment, focusing on financial independence and skill acquisition. Finally, you offer specific, relevant job suggestions such as customer service and IT support. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and the position is consistent throughout. The ideas are well-developed and directly relevant to the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You use appropriate cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'More importantly', and 'Alternatively' to transition between points smoothly. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the introduction, the body of the advice, and the closing. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between the ideas is easy to follow, making the text very easy to read.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and natural range of vocabulary. Phrases like 'dilemma', 'theoretical study', 'financial independence', and 'climb the ladder' are used accurately and in the correct context. The language is sophisticated yet remains appropriate for an informal letter to a friend. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary effectively conveys your message with precision and ease.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The writing displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You successfully use complex sentences, such as 'If you want my honest advice, I strongly believe that getting a job right now is the best move for you.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no significant grammatical errors. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and sentence structure is excellent, reflecting a high level of proficiency.

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

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