Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 Alex,

I hope you are doing well.

I am delighted that you have contacted me for advice before applying for the course at the same university.

Let me explain the situation to you. I completed the Business Management Studies, which lasted two years. The course is well structured and combines academic and practical training. It consists of four semesters and 24 subjects. In addition, this course is designed to teach you important skills such as teamwork, presentation and problem-solving.

I would definitely recommend this university because it has several advantages. Firstly, all the professors are experienced. In addition, they teach skills that are relevant to the industry. Secondly, the university offers placement opportunities to high-achieving students in the course.

I would like to give you one piece of advice: this course not only requires dedication and consistency, but also involves working with other students in groups. Although you sometimes find teamwork challenging, it will help you develop skills that are valuable for future career opportunities. I know you are great at mathematics, which will definitely help you in some of the courses.

I wish you the best of luck for your future. Please reach out to me if you need any help or have any questions.

Kind regards,

Anuj

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You provided clear details about the Business Management Studies course, explained the benefits of the university, and offered relevant advice regarding the application and study process. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, maintaining a friendly and helpful persona throughout. The ideas are well-developed, and the structure is logical. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific 'how-to' advice regarding the application process itself, such as mentioning deadlines, required documents, or the online portal, rather than focusing primarily on the study experience.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, and you have used cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Firstly', and 'Although' effectively to link your sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is logical, and the transition between the course description and the advice is smooth. The letter flows naturally, and the referencing is clear throughout. To improve further, you could experiment with a wider variety of cohesive devices to ensure the flow feels even more sophisticated and less mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a good range of vocabulary appropriate for the context, such as 'dedication', 'consistency', 'placement opportunities', and 'high-achieving'. The word choice is generally accurate and natural. You successfully avoid repetition and use terms that are relevant to an academic setting. While the vocabulary is sufficient and precise, it remains somewhat standard. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more idiomatic expressions or less common collocations that would add a touch of flair and sophistication to your writing, making it sound more like a natural, fluent speaker.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your grammar is strong, and you demonstrate a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. You use complex structures, such as 'Although you sometimes find teamwork challenging, it will help you...', effectively. There are no significant errors that impede communication. To reach the highest band, ensure that you consistently use a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as conditional sentences or passive voice constructions, where appropriate, to demonstrate full flexibility and control over the language.

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

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