Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-07

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 Mandeep,

I hope you are doing well! In your last letter, you were inquiring about whether you should go to college or start a job. I'd say do a job since you already have a Bachelor's degree in Commerce, so gaining some experience would be great. As far as I know you, it would be difficult for you to continue your studies again after a gap year.

From my point of view, getting a field job is always beneficial because theory will not be enough to excel in the future. Since you have done a bachelor's, so you've basic understanding of all the concepts in business and accounting. On top of that, you'll start earning while gaining practical experience if you choose to work.

You have a wide range of options to choose from: banking, teaching, supervisor, or accountant. But I suggest you to choose accounting as your profession because you have a good command over the basic concepts of accounting principles. Consequently, you'll come out as the best accountant in Gurdaspur.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me.

Your friend,

Anamika

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You provided a clear reason why college might not be enjoyable, explained the benefits of working, and suggested specific job roles. Your tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and your position is consistent throughout the response. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly more on the 'why' behind your advice, perhaps by contrasting the long-term career benefits of experience versus the potential monotony of further academic study. Overall, the task is fully covered.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use some cohesive devices like 'As far as I know,' 'From my point of view,' and 'Consequently' to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases further and ensure that the flow between sentences within paragraphs is even smoother to achieve a more natural, sophisticated progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task. Phrases like 'excel in the future,' 'practical experience,' and 'good command over' are used effectively. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'field job' (which is not a standard collocation) and 'do a job' (which is slightly informal). While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, incorporating more precise or idiomatic expressions would help elevate your score. For example, instead of 'do a job,' you could use 'pursue a career' or 'enter the workforce.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. Most of your sentences are clear and easy to follow. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'you've basic understanding' (missing the article 'a') and 'I suggest you to choose' (the verb 'suggest' is usually followed by a that-clause or a gerund, e.g., 'I suggest that you choose' or 'I suggest choosing'). Despite these occasional errors, your grammar does not impede communication, and you show good control over punctuation and sentence construction.

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

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