Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-24

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

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

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. ,

Student answer (Band 8.0)

Dear Sam,

I’m really glad you’re thinking about going camping this summer. I think you would enjoy it because it is a great way to escape from your busy daily routine and spend time in nature. You could go hiking, swim in a lake, cook meals outdoors and sit around a campfire at night. It would also be a fun opportunity to meet new people and have an adventure.

However, camping can have some disadvantages. The weather may be rainy or cold, and sleeping in a tent can sometimes be uncomfortable. You also have to cook and clean everything yourself, and insects can be annoying. If you are not used to camping, these things might take some time to get used to.

I would definitely like to go camping with you this summer. It would be much more enjoyable to share the experience with a friend. Let me know when you decide the dates!

Best wishes,

Alex

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explain why your friend would enjoy camping, provide relevant disadvantages such as weather and discomfort, and confirm your interest in joining them. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and the purpose is clear throughout. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the context of a first-time camping trip. You have successfully covered all parts of the task in a natural and engaging manner.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organised with a clear structure. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your ideas easily. You use appropriate cohesive devices such as 'However', 'also', and 'If you are not used to' to link your sentences and paragraphs effectively. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the benefits to the drawbacks and finally to your personal decision. The paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different points.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is natural and appropriate for the context. Phrases like 'escape from your busy daily routine' and 'share the experience' are well-chosen. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the task well, it is generally standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions related to outdoor activities or travel. However, the current range is sufficient to convey your message clearly and effectively without any errors in word choice or collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your grammar is very strong, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use modal verbs correctly ('would enjoy', 'can have', 'might take') and maintain consistent tense usage throughout the letter. Punctuation is accurate, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, showing good control over your writing. To improve further, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as using more advanced relative clauses or conditional forms.

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

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