Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-14

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 Sarah,

I hope you are doing well. I was really happy to hear that you are considering applying for the same course that I studied at university. I would be delighted to share some information and advice with you.

I completed a Master's degree in Computer Science, which was a two-year course. The program covered subjects such as programming, database management, computer networks, and software engineering. We also had several practical projects, which helped me develop useful technical and problem-solving skills.

I strongly recommend this university because the professors are highly experienced and supportive. The university also has excellent computer laboratories, a well-equipped library, and many opportunities for students to work on practical projects. In addition, the campus has a friendly and multicultural environment.

As for the application, I suggest that you first check the university's website for the admission requirements and application deadlines. Prepare your academic certificates, English-language test results, statement of purpose, and reference letters in advance. Make sure you complete the application form carefully and submit all the required documents before the deadline.

I hope this advice is helpful. Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.

Best wishes,

Tejashwini

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You clearly described the Master's degree in Computer Science, provided a strong justification for recommending the university by highlighting the faculty and facilities, and offered practical, step-by-step advice for the application process. The tone is consistently appropriate for a letter to a friend, maintaining a friendly and helpful persona throughout. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, meeting all the requirements of the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific requirement of the prompt. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving naturally from the course details to the recommendation and finally to the application advice. You used cohesive devices such as 'In addition,' 'As for the application,' and 'which helped me' effectively to link sentences and ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the overall structure is clear and easy to follow, contributing to a coherent piece of writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for the context. Phrases like 'multicultural environment,' 'admission requirements,' and 'statement of purpose' show a solid grasp of topic-specific language. The word choice is natural and precise, allowing for clear communication. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it stays within a relatively standard range. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions that would add a more nuanced, native-like quality to your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The writing is highly accurate, with a variety of sentence structures used throughout. You successfully combined simple and complex sentences, such as using relative clauses ('which helped me develop...') and conditional-like structures. There are virtually no grammatical errors, and punctuation is handled correctly. The control over tense and agreement is consistent. Because the majority of your sentences are error-free and you display a good command of complex structures, this meets the criteria for a high band score.

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

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