Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-12

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 8.0)

Dear Rahul,

I hope you’re doing well. I was really happy to hear that you’re considering applying for the same course I took at university.

I studied a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, which was a three-year programme. The course covered a wide range of subjects, including accounting, marketing, human resources and business management. What I particularly enjoyed was the practical approach, as we regularly worked on presentations, case studies and group projects.

I would definitely recommend this university because of its excellent teaching staff and modern facilities. The professors were very supportive and always willing to help students outside class. In addition, the university has a great library and several career services that can help students find internships and employment after graduation.

As for applying, I suggest visiting the university’s official website and checking the admission requirements carefully. Make sure you prepare your academic transcripts, identification documents and a well-written personal statement. I would also recommend applying early, as some courses fill up quickly.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you need any more information.

Best wishes,

Gagandeep

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly described the Business Administration course, provided compelling reasons for recommending the university (teaching staff, facilities, and career services), and offered practical, actionable advice on the application process. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, maintaining a consistent and helpful perspective throughout. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, meeting all requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific requirement of the prompt, which makes the structure easy to follow. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'As for', and 'which was a three-year programme', to link sentences and ideas smoothly. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different sections of the letter, contributing to a coherent and professional flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for the context. Phrases like 'practical approach', 'academic transcripts', and 'admission requirements' show a level of precision suitable for this task. The language is natural and flows well. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the tone, it is generally standard; incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common collocations could elevate this further, but the current range is more than sufficient for a high band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The grammar is highly accurate throughout the response. You successfully use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences with relative clauses ('...which was a three-year programme') and conditional-like structures ('...if you need any more information'). Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no noticeable errors that impede communication. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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

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