Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-25

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 Julia,

I hope that you are in the pink of health! I'm so excited to know that you want to pursue the same course that I did at university. I'm confident that it will equip you with the essential skills needed for your future. I did a 2-year diploma in business management in which I had some core subjects such as accounting, marketing, entrepreneurship, strategic management and many more.

Moreover, I would recommend studying at Cape Breton University because of its multicultural environment, highly-qualified professors, job placement opportunities and the efficient way of teaching. As this institution focuses on providing practical knowledge along with theoretical knowledge, every student has to complete either a Cape-stone project or a management-level internship in their last semester. Apart from that, University provides many scholarships to students based on their academic performances.

As you're visiting Sydney next week, I would suggest that you should visit the student information centre for admission procedure. However, an explanatory booklet is available on the university's website as well. If you need any help filling out any forms, I'm always there for you.

I wish you all the best for your future. I can't be more happy for you!

All the best,

Jashan

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 your business management course, offered a persuasive recommendation for Cape Breton University by highlighting its multicultural environment and practical project requirements, and gave helpful, actionable advice regarding the application process. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, maintaining a friendly and supportive persona throughout. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, ensuring the reader receives a comprehensive answer to their request for advice. No parts of the task were omitted, and the response is well-focused on the requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your advice easily. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Moreover', 'Apart from that', and 'However', to link your sentences and paragraphs. The transition between discussing the course, the university, and the application process is smooth. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different topics, and the overall structure is coherent and easy to navigate.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the context of university advice. Phrases like 'equip you with the essential skills', 'multicultural environment', and 'practical knowledge' show a solid command of language. There is an attempt to use idiomatic language ('in the pink of health'), although this is slightly unusual in this specific context. Generally, your word choice is precise and natural. You avoid repetition and use a range of terms related to academic and professional settings, which enhances the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your writing displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar and punctuation is strong. For example, you correctly use conditional structures ('If you need any help...') and relative clauses. There are very few minor slips, such as 'I can't be more happy for you' (which should be 'I couldn't be happier for you'), but these do not impede communication at all. The majority of your sentences are accurate, reflecting a high level of grammatical control.

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

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