A friend of yours is thinking of going on a camping holiday for the first time this summer. He/She has asked for your advice. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: - explain why you think your friend would enjoy a camping holiday - describe some possible disadvantages - say whether you would like to go camping with your friend this summer

Same questionCompare 2 different answers (Band 7.5–8)

Sample Response

1

Dear Anmol,

2

I can't express how thrilled I truly am to hear that you’re considering going on a camping holiday this summer! It’s an experience like no other!

3

Camping allows us to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of our daily life and immerse ourselves in nature, especially for us who live in a busy city. Waking up to the sound of birds, enjoying a campfire under the stars, and exploring scenic landscapes can be incredibly refreshing and rewarding and I believe you will enjoy it all.

4

However, there are some potential downsides to consider. The weather can be unpredictable, so you’ll need to be prepared for rain or chilly nights. Also, sleeping in a tent might not be as comfortable as a hotel room, especially if you’re not used to it. And let’s not forget about insects—insects - you’ll definitely want to pack some bug spray!

5

That saidThat being said, I'd absolutely love to join you on this camping tripon this adventure! It would be great fun to explore the outdoors together, and I could help you with some camping basicssome of the basics since I’ve been camping before.

6

Let me know your plans, and we can start planningorganizing the trip!

7

Warm wishes,

8

Erin

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 8.0

This is a warm, engaging letter that fully answers the request, develops both benefits and disadvantages, and maintains a convincing informal relationship with the reader. Its only notable limitation is occasional over-emphasis and a few slightly loose sentence connections; tightening punctuation and moderating repeated exclamation marks would make the already fluent response more polished and controlled.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TA

Task Achievement

8.5
Scoring rule

The letter fully covers all three bullet points with well-developed, personal, and consistently relevant detail.

Next step

Refine the advice by briefly naming one essential item beyond bug spray for even greater practical specificity.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

8.0
Scoring rule

Purposeful paragraphs and clear transitions create a smooth progression through enthusiasm, drawbacks, and the offer to join.

Next step

Tighten the long benefits sentence so each supporting image has slightly clearer emphasis.

LR

Lexical Resource

8.0
Scoring rule

The vocabulary is flexible, natural, and well suited to an enthusiastic informal letter, with only minor imprecision.

Next step

Prefer daily lives when referring collectively to both writer and reader, and avoid relying on familiar stock phrases.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

8.0
Scoring rule

A wide range of structures is handled accurately, with only minor punctuation and coordination lapses that do not impede meaning.

Next step

Use firmer punctuation in long coordinated sentences and avoid joining too many clauses with and.

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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1

A friend of yours is thinking of going on a camping holiday for the first time this summer. He/She has asked for your advice. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

- explain why you think your friend would enjoy a camping holiday

- describe some possible disadvantages

- say whether you would like to go camping with your friend this summer

Your response

Words0
20:00

Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.