📝 IELTS General Writing Task 1 — Real Band Breakdown (Sample: Complaint Letter)

❓ Want to know how IELTS examiners really evaluate your letter?

▶️ Here’s a realistic band breakdown of the sample we posted earlier — with different scores for each criterion, just like in the actual exam.

📌 Task:
Write a letter to an online store to complain about a damaged book, request a refund or replacement, and suggest a solution.

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1️⃣ Task Achievement – 7.0

✔️ All three bullet points are addressed.
✔️ The purpose of the letter is clear and appropriately developed.
❗️ However, the explanation of the situation could include more specific detail to fully satisfy the task.

💬 Improvement tip: Expand on the emotional impact or the urgency of the issue.

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2️⃣ Coherence and Cohesion – 6.5

✔️ The letter is logically organised with clear paragraphing.
❗️ However, linking phrases are quite basic (“however,” “to avoid this issue”). There’s some repetition and limited use of referencing.

💬 Improvement tip: Use more varied connectors like “as a result,” “due to this issue,” “in response” for smoother flow.

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3️⃣ Lexical Resource – 7.5

✔️ A wide range of topic-specific vocabulary: “refund,” “replacement,” “packaging materials,” “torn pages.”
✔️ Word choice is mostly accurate and appropriate.

💬 Improvement tip: Use slightly more idiomatic or nuanced phrases to boost your score (e.g., “in good faith,” “not fit for purpose”).

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4️⃣ Grammatical Range and Accuracy – 7.0

✔️ Good use of modals, conditionals, and passive voice: “I would like to request,” “was delivered,” “if necessary.”
❗️ Occasional minor errors and a few overly simple structures.

💬 Improvement tip: Add more variety in sentence types and ensure all complex structures are accurate.

💯 Overall Band Score: 7.0

This is a solid letter with a few areas to polish. With slightly richer ideas, better cohesion, and more complex structures, it could reach Band 8.0.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️General Writing Task 1 — Low Band 5.0 Sample Letter

↖️Practicing with low-scoring letters helps you avoid common mistakes. Here’s a real example of a Band 5.0 level answer with a typical Task 1 prompt.

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🔘 Task:

⏪You recently applied for a job in a company but haven’t received a response. Write a letter to the company to follow up on your application.⏩

In your letter:
📌explain when and for what position you applied
📌ask for an update on your application
📌express your continued interest in the role

Write at least 150 words.

📎Begin your letter as follows: ⏪Dear Sir or Madam,⏩

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👉 Band 5.0 Sample Answer:

1️⃣Dear Sir or Madam,

2️⃣I apply for job in your company 2 weeks ago. I don’t get any answer and I want to know if I can get the job or not. It was the manager job. I send my CV and letter.

3️⃣I want to know when I get information. I need work fast because I don’t have job now. Please tell me.

4️⃣I really like the company and want to work here. It is my dream. I can do the work good. I wait for answer.

5️⃣Sincerely,
John Adam

❓ Why This Letter Gets Band 5.0 — IELTS Writing Task 1 (General)⤵️

📌 Let’s break down the sample letter using the 4 official IELTS criteria. Here’s where it falls short — and how to fix it.

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1️⃣ Task Achievement – Band 5.0
❌ The letter addresses the main points only partially.
✔️ The purpose is somewhat clear, but ideas are underdeveloped.
❌ There’s no explanation of qualifications or details about the job — just vague phrases like “manager job.”

📌 How to improve: Add specific dates, job title, and a more professional tone when expressing interest.


2️⃣ Coherence and Cohesion – Band 5.0
❌ The letter lacks clear structure. Paragraphs blend into one another.
❌ Logical flow is weak, with short, disconnected ideas.
✔️ There is some attempt at sequencing (e.g., “I apply… I don’t get…”).

📌 How to improve: Group ideas into paragraphs and use linking words like “Therefore,” “In addition,” “As a result.”

3️⃣ Lexical Resource – Band 5.0
❌ Vocabulary is very basic: “good,” “fast,” “want,” “dream.”
❌ Several awkward or unnatural phrases: “do the work good,” “I wait for answer.”

📌 How to improve: Use more formal and precise language such as “suitable for this position,” “eager to contribute,” “would appreciate an update.”

4️⃣ Grammatical Range and Accuracy – Band 5.0
❌ There are frequent errors in verb tense, articles, and sentence structure.
Examples: “I apply,” “I don’t get,” “I send my CV.”
✔️ Meaning is understandable, but the errors interfere with clarity.

📌 How to improve: Practice simple and accurate past tenses. Use more varied sentence forms and avoid direct translations from native language.

🆕🆕 IELTS Writing Task 2 — Practice Essay Topic (Band 7+ Focus)

❓Ready to level up your essay writing skills?

➡️Here’s a fresh Task 2 question designed to challenge your ideas, vocabulary, and structure.

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📨 Task 2: Opinion Essay

〰 Some people think that the government should invest more in public transportation instead of building new roads and highways.

〰 To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

〰 Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.

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💋💋💋 Make sure to clearly state your opinion in the introduction, support it with well-developed paragraphs, and use a wide range of vocabulary and grammar structures.

🟣 IELTS Writing Task 2 — Band 7.5 Sample Essay with Highlighted Language

🟣Practicing full essays with model answers is one of the best ways to improve your writing.🟣

Below is a Band 7.5 response to a real-style IELTS Task 2 question. Key vocabulary and advanced grammar are highlighted for your reference⤵️

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📌 Task 2: Discussion + Opinion Essay

➡️ Many people believe that children should be taught how to manage money at school, as it is an important life skill.

➡️ Do you agree or disagree?

➡️ Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.

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☑️ Band 7.5 Sample Essay:

1️⃣In today’s world, where financial decisions can significantly impact a person’s life, teaching children money management skills at school has become a widely debated topic. While some argue that such education should come from parents, I believe that schools play a vital role in preparing students for real-world responsibilities, including handling money.

2️⃣One key reason to include financial literacy in school curricula is that many parents lack the time, knowledge, or resources to teach their children about budgeting, saving, or spending wisely. Schools provide a structured environment where students can learn essential skills through practical examples and simulations. For instance, students could be taught how to create a basic budget, understand interest rates, or evaluate the difference between needs and wants.

3️⃣Moreover, introducing money management at a young age can instill long-term habits that promote financial responsibility. Had I learned how to plan my expenses in high school, I might have avoided some of the mistakes I made in university, such as relying too heavily on credit cards.

4️⃣However, it is important that such lessons are age-appropriate and integrated gradually into the curriculum. Teachers should be properly trained, and real-life applications should be emphasized to make the lessons both engaging and relevant.

5️⃣In conclusion, although families influence children’s financial behavior, school-based education on money management ensures that all students receive equal and consistent guidance. Therefore, I strongly support the idea of teaching personal finance at school as part of the standard education system.

📑 IELTS Writing Task 2 — Key Vocabulary List with Definitions

🧷From the Band 7.5 Sample Essay: “Should children be taught money management at school?”

↪️Mastering topic-specific vocabulary is essential for boosting your IELTS score. Here are the key words from the essay above, with clear English definitions to help you use them confidently in your own writing.

✅ Vocabulary List:

🔢 Financial literacy — the ability to understand and manage basic financial concepts like budgeting, saving, and investing.

🔢 Structured environment — a well-organized and controlled setting, especially useful for learning or practicing specific skills.

🔡 Budgeting — the process of planning how to spend and save money by organizing income and expenses.

🔢 Saving — the act of putting money aside for future use rather than spending it immediately.

🔢 Spending wisely — using money carefully and thoughtfully, especially to avoid waste or unnecessary purchases.

🔢 Create a basic budget — to make a simple financial plan that shows how much money is earned and how it will be spent.

🔢 Interest rates — the percentage of money charged or earned on a loan or savings over time.

🔢 Needs and wants — needs are essential items for survival (like food or shelter), while wants are non-essential items people desire (like a new phone or luxury clothes).

🔢 Instill long-term habits — to gradually teach someone a behavior or attitude that lasts for a long time.

🔢🔡 Financial responsibility — the ability to manage money in a way that is sensible and avoids unnecessary debt.

🔢🔢 Age-appropriate — suitable for the age and developmental stage of a child or student.

🔢🔢 Real-life applications — practical uses of knowledge or skills in everyday situations.

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📌 Tip: Try using 3–4 of these words in your next practice essay to naturally boost your lexical resource score.