Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-04

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 Ayesha,

I hope you are doing great. You asked whether you should go to college or look for a job. From my perspective, getting a job would be a better choice for you.

Firstly, I don't think you would enjoy college very much. You have always preferred practical activities to studying from books, and you often find long periods of class lectures were boring. Moreover, college requires several years of study and regular assignments, which may not suit your personality.

On the other hand, a job would allow you to earn money, become independent and gain valuable experience. You would also learn useful skills such as communication, teamwork, and time management while working.

I think you would be particularly suited for roles in retail, sales or customer service because you are confident, friendly, and good at talking to people. You can start with an entry-level position.

I expect that my suggestions could help you in your future venture. Let me know what you decide.

Best Wishes,

Amna Asad

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task effectively. You clearly explained why college might not be suitable for your friend, provided logical reasons for choosing a job, and suggested specific roles like retail and customer service. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and your position is consistent throughout the response. To reach a higher band, you could provide slightly more depth in your reasoning—for example, by briefly mentioning how a specific job might lead to long-term career growth, which would further develop your ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is well-structured with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each point, and a polite closing. You use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', and 'On the other hand' to guide the reader through your arguments. The progression of ideas is logical and easy to follow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct topics. The flow is natural, and the relationship between sentences is clear, which meets the criteria for a high band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the context of giving advice. Phrases like 'practical activities', 'valuable experience', and 'entry-level position' are used accurately. The vocabulary is natural and precise enough to convey your message without any confusion. To improve further, you could incorporate a few more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions that are appropriate for informal correspondence, such as 'weighing up your options' or 'a stepping stone'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

Your grammar is generally strong, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent. There is a minor tense inconsistency in the second paragraph: 'you often find long periods of class lectures were boring' should be 'you often find... are boring' or 'you often found... were boring'. Despite this, your writing is clear and the errors do not impede communication at all.

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

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