Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-07-30

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

A friend of yours is thinking about applying for the same course that you did at university. He/She has asked for your advice about studying this subject. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter

• give details of the course you took at the university
• explain why you recommend the university
• give some advice about how to apply

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

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

Student answer (Band 8.5)

Dear Sam,

I hope you are doing well. I was happy to hear that you are thinking about applying for the same university course that I studied.

I studied a Bachelor of Business Administration. The course lasted for four years and included subjects like marketing, accounting, management, and finance. We also worked on group projects and gave presentations, which helped me improve my communication skills.

I recommend this university because the teachers are friendly and experienced. The campus has a good library, modern classrooms, and many student activities. I also had the chance to meet students from different countries, which made my university life more enjoyable.

If you want to apply, you should first visit the university website and check the admission requirements. Make sure you prepare all the necessary documents, such as your academic certificates and English test results. It is also a good idea to apply early because the course is quite popular.

I hope this information helps you. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.

Best wishes,

Aman

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You provided specific details about your Bachelor of Business Administration, explained the benefits of the university environment, and offered clear, actionable advice on the application process. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, maintaining a consistent and helpful persona throughout. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, ensuring the reader receives a comprehensive answer to their request. There are no omissions, and the letter structure is logical and complete.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is well-organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your points easily. You use effective cohesive devices such as 'I also had the chance to', 'If you want to apply', and 'It is also a good idea to' to link your sentences and paragraphs. The transition between the course description and the recommendation is smooth. The paragraphing is logical, and the overall structure is very coherent, making the letter easy to read and follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for the context of university studies. Phrases like 'admission requirements', 'academic certificates', and 'improve my communication skills' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it remains somewhat standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions to add variety. However, there are no spelling errors, and your word choice is consistently precise and natural, which effectively conveys your message without any confusion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

Your grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of sentence structures used throughout the letter. You successfully employ complex sentences, such as 'I also had the chance to meet students from different countries, which made my university life more enjoyable.' Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, showing a strong command of English syntax. The control over verb tenses and clause structures is consistent, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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