Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-13

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 Raman,

I received your letter asking for advice about whether to go to college or try to find a job. In my opinion, getting a job would be a better choice for you at this stage.

Firstly, I know that have not a keen interest in studying; you do not like to study for long hours. College provides a lot of assignments and exams which can make you feel bored. So, I think you would be better in a practical environment.

Moreover, getting a job would be better for you to earn money and become more independent. Also, you can gain valuable work experience and develop important skills such as communication, teamwork and time management.

I think you can get a job in Customer service in retail or in a hotel. You could start with a part-time job and could jump in full-time position after some time.

I hope my advice helps you. Please let me know what you decide.

Kind regards,

Max

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response successfully covers all bullet points required by the prompt in a friendly and consistent tone. First, you clearly state why Raman would not enjoy college by pointing out his lack of interest in long study hours and exams. Second, you explain the benefits of getting a job, such as earning money and becoming independent. Finally, you suggest suitable roles, specifically mentioning customer service in retail or hotels, and even propose a progression from part-time to full-time. The purpose of the letter is clearly established and sustained throughout the writing, fully satisfying the requirements of this general task. Your ideas are well-developed and directly tailored to your friend's situation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organised with a clear beginning, body paragraphs addressing distinct points, and an appropriate closing. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different ideas requested in the prompt. You make good use of cohesive devices to guide the reader through your thoughts, such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', and 'Also'. Referencing is clear throughout, and the progression of ideas from explaining why college is unsuitable to outlining job benefits and finally suggesting specific jobs flows very naturally. Cohesion is well managed and unobtrusive.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

Your vocabulary is generally natural and appropriate for an informal letter to a friend, featuring relevant terms such as 'independent', 'practical environment', 'work experience', and 'teamwork'. You attempt some less common collocations like 'gain valuable work experience' and 'develop important skills'. However, there are minor lexical inaccuracies, such as 'jump in full-time position' instead of 'jump into a full-time position'. Despite these occasional slips, the range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning with precision and flexibility, easily satisfying the requirements for a Band 7 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as conditional and multi-clause sentences ('College provides a lot of assignments and exams which can make you feel bored.'). There is a minor grammatical slip in the second paragraph ('I know that have not a keen interest'), where the subject 'you' is missing. However, the majority of your sentences are error-free, and your punctuation and control of tense are generally strong. The errors present do not impede communication at all, reflecting a solid command of grammar appropriate for this level.

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