Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-17

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Write a letter to the local council. In your letter

• give details of how you and your friends or family use the centre
• explain why the sports and leisure centre is important for the local community
• describe the possible effects on local people if the centre closes

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 7.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

With due respect. I am writing this letter in order to express my concern towards the possible closure of the local centre, and to explain why sports and leisure centre are highly valuable for the community.

At the onset, I would like to provide you with the information about how these social facilities are useful for my family and friends. My husband and I usually visit the gym several times a week, and my daughter attends swimming classes on regular basis. In addition, my friends attend yoga and fitness sessions in the evening.

Furthermore, the centre particularly offers sports and recreational activities for young and elderly people. Not only does it encourage residents to lead healthier lifestyle, but it also provides an opportunity for neighbours to interact and build stronger relationships. Moreover, it provides safe and productive place for children to spend their free time.

In the last, I would request the council to reconsider the decision of closing the local centre. If the centre were to close, local residents might face several difficulties. Many people would have to travel to other areas in order to utilise the public facilities, which could be inconvenient and expensive. The closure could reduce the opportunity for people to interact, and children might lose access to sports activities.

I hope you prioritise community's welfare above anything else. Kindly request prompt attention to this matter.

Yours faithfully, Date: 17-09-2026

Sara Williams

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response successfully covers all parts of the task prompt in a clear and appropriate tone suitable for a general letter. You clearly detailed how your family and friends use the centre, noting that you and your husband visit the gym, your daughter attends swimming classes, and your friends take yoga sessions. Furthermore, you explained the importance of the facility for the local community by highlighting how it promotes healthier lifestyles, neighborly interaction, and safe spaces for children. Finally, you effectively described the possible effects of its closure, such as increased travel inconvenience, higher expenses, and fewer social opportunities for residents. Your purpose is clear throughout, and the letter is well-developed with relevant details, fulfilling the requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized and easy to follow, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. You make good use of paragraphing to separate different points, such as personal usage, community benefits, and the consequences of closure. Cohesive devices are employed reasonably well to guide the reader through your arguments, for instance using phrases like 'At the onset', 'Furthermore', and 'Moreover'. While some transitional phrases are slightly formal or traditional, they do not detract from the overall clarity and logical progression of the letter. Referencing is clear throughout, and the layout of the letter matches standard formal conventions.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for this task, utilizing less common items with some awareness of style and collocation. Examples include expressions such as 'social facilities', 'recreational activities', 'lead healthier lifestyle', and 'reconsider the decision'. There are occasional minor lexical inaccuracies or missing articles, such as writing 'towards the possible closure' instead of 'regarding' or 'about', and omitting an article in 'lead healthier lifestyle' ('a healthier lifestyle'). However, these minor slips do not impede communication, and your vocabulary choices effectively convey your intended meaning and tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The letter displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional clauses ('If the centre were to close, local residents might face several difficulties') and inverted structures ('Not only does it encourage residents...'). The majority of your sentences are grammatically accurate and well-controlled. There are some minor grammatical errors, such as the fragment 'With due respect.' at the beginning, 'sports and leisure centre are' (plural/singular mismatch), and 'In the last' instead of 'Lastly' or 'In conclusion'. Nevertheless, these errors do not impede understanding, and your punctuation and overall grammar demonstrate solid control.

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

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