Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-17

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 Adam Gilbert and I am writing to you to bring your attention towards a misinformation printed in your prestigious magazine. It is about an article printed on 15th August 2026 about Taj Mahal. In the article, the timings to visit the tomb were incorrect and I hope you can rectify that mistake as soon as possible.

I noticed that the article mentioned that Taj Mahal is open from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. Not only the days are incorrect, the timings are also wrong. In fact, it is open on all seven days from 9 am to 5 pm.

It is crucial for a popular travel magazine like yours to give factual information as a lot of travellers rely on the magazine to gather such information. In this case, Sunday is the most important day as Taj Mahal gets the maximum number of tourists on that day. Providing such false information would not only prevent tourists from reaching the landmark, it could also tarnish the reputation of the magazine.

Therefore, I would suggest you to publish a follow-up article to provide correct information in your next publication.

I am grateful that you took the time to go through the letter and I hope to see the rectification soon.

Yours faithfully,

Adam Gilbert

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three parts of the prompt in a natural and professional tone. First, the student clearly corrects the information by providing the accurate opening days and hours for the Taj Mahal, stating, 'in fact, it is open on all seven days from 9 am to 5 pm.' Second, the importance of accuracy is well explained by highlighting the impact on travellers and the magazine's reputation. Finally, a clear and logical suggestion is made to 'publish a follow-up article.' The purpose is immediately established and maintained throughout, fulfilling all requirements of a General Training Task 1 letter to a high standard, aligning with Band 8 descriptors for covering all parts well with appropriate tone.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Ideas are logically sequenced, beginning with the purpose of the letter, moving into specific corrections, discussing the consequences of misinformation, and concluding with a constructive recommendation. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, separating distinct thoughts such as the specific error, the rationale for correction, and the final suggestion. Cohesive devices are used naturally, with phrases like 'Not only the days are incorrect,' 'In this case,' and 'Therefore,' guiding the reader smoothly through the argument without obtrusiveness, satisfying the criteria for Band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates an adequate to good range of vocabulary suited to a formal complaint letter. Appropriate items such as 'prestigious magazine,' 'rectify that mistake,' 'factual information,' 'tarnish the reputation,' and 'follow-up article' are utilised effectively. While there is a slight unnatural collocation with 'bring your attention towards a misinformation' (where 'misinformation' is uncountable and 'to' is preferred over 'towards'), the vocabulary used is sufficient for precision and flexibility. There are minor lexical choices that could be elevated, but the overall message is conveyed clearly and professionally, fitting the Band 7 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over grammatical structures. Examples include conditional-like reasoning and inverted structures such as 'Not only the days are incorrect, the timings are also wrong' (which could be improved with 'are the timings wrong', but remains understandable). Punctuation and sentence boundaries are handled well throughout. The majority of sentences are grammatically sound, with only very occasional awkward phrasings that do not impede communication at all. This level of accuracy and variety places the writing solidly in the Band 7 category.

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