Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-22

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’m really glad to hear that you are thinking about applying for the same course that I studied at university. I would definitely recommend it to you.

I studied Early Learning and Child Care, which was a two-year diploma course. The course covered a variety of subjects, including child development, play and creativity, working with infants and toddlers, and planning activities for young children. We also had practical placements, which gave us the opportunity to gain real experience in a childcare setting.

I would strongly recommend this university because the instructors are supportive and the course is very practical. The college also provides students with opportunities to work with children during their placements. I especially enjoyed the practical experience because it helped me develop my communication and classroom-management skills.

As for the application, I suggest that you first visit the university’s official website and carefully check the admission requirements. Make sure you have all the required documents, such as your previous education certificates and identification. You should also apply early because some programs can fill up quickly. If you have any questions, you can contact the admissions office for help.

I hope this advice is useful. Let me know if you need any help with the application. I’d be happy to help you.

Best wishes,

Navdeep

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 Early Learning and Child Care course, provided logical reasons for recommending the university, and offered practical, actionable advice on 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 supported with specific examples, such as mentioning the practical placements and the importance of checking admission requirements. The response is well-structured and meets all the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized, with a clear progression of ideas from the course details to the recommendation and finally the application advice. Each paragraph has a clear focus, and the transition between sections is smooth. You have used a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'As for the application' and 'I especially enjoyed', which help guide the reader through the text. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the message. The letter flows naturally and is very easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for this task. Phrases like 'practical placements', 'childcare setting', and 'admission requirements' are used accurately and fit the context well. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more sophisticated or less common collocations to reach the highest band. However, the current range is sufficient to convey your message with precision and ease. There are no spelling errors, and the word choice is consistently natural and appropriate for the informal yet informative tone of the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your grammar is highly accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'I’m really glad to hear that you are thinking about applying...' and 'The course covered a variety of subjects, including...'. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no significant grammatical slips that impede communication. The control over verb tenses and sentence construction is strong, reflecting a high level of proficiency. The writing is clear, fluent, and demonstrates a solid command of English grammar.

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

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