Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-23
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
You have just read an article in an international travel magazine which contained some information about your town that is incorrect.
Write a letter to the editor of the magazine. In your letter
- correct the information in the article
- explain why it is important for the magazine to give correct information
- suggest what the magazine should do about this situation
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,
I am writing regarding an article about my town, Surrey which was published in the latest edition of your international travel magazine. While I enjoyed reading the article, I noticed that some of the information provided was incorrect.
The article stated that surrey has limited public transportation and that visitors need to rent a car to travel around the city. However, this is not accurate. Surrey has extensive public transportation system, including buses and the SkyTrain, which connects the city with Vancouver and other parts of the lower mainland. Many popular places can therefore be reached easily without a car.
It is important that your magazine provide accurate information because tourists may rely on it when planning their trips. I would appreciate if you could correct this information in the online version and publish a brief correction in your next issue.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Regards,
Harshpreet Kaur
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly corrected the misinformation regarding Surrey's transportation, explained the potential negative impact on tourists, and provided a reasonable suggestion for the magazine to rectify the error. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to an editor. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring the reader understands the situation and the desired outcome. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly on the 'why'—for instance, by mentioning how incorrect information might damage the magazine's reputation or lead to significant inconvenience for travelers.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the correction from the explanation and the suggestion. Cohesive devices such as 'However,' 'therefore,' and 'because' are used appropriately to link ideas. The progression of information is smooth and easy to follow. To improve further, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, 'this is not accurate' clearly refers back to the previous sentence, which is good. The overall structure is coherent and professional.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task. Phrases like 'extensive public transportation system' and 'attention to this matter' are well-chosen and appropriate for a formal context. There are no significant spelling errors, though 'surrey' should be capitalized as it is a proper noun. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it is somewhat standard. Incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or less common synonyms would help elevate the lexical range to a higher band level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is generally accurate. There is a minor error in the second paragraph: 'Surrey has extensive public transportation system' should be 'an extensive public transportation system'. Additionally, 'I would appreciate if you could' is better phrased as 'I would appreciate it if you could'. Despite these minor slips, the grammar does not impede communication, and the control over complex structures is consistent.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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