Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-25

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Your English-speaking friend who lives in your town has asked for your advice about learning a new sport. Write an email to your friend. In your email:

• recommend a new sport that would be suitable for your friend to learn
• explain how your friend could learn this sport
• suggest that you both learn this sport together

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ....................................,

 

Student answer (Band 8.5)

Dear Jay,

I hope you are doing great. I heard that you are keen on taking up a new sport, and I have the perfect recommendation for you. Considering your desire to improve your health and fitness, I would suggest you to learn swimming. It is suitable for all body types and fitness levels.

Learning to swim can be enjoyable and rewarding experience. There are several swimming pools in our town that offer beginner classes with qualified instructors. These classes will provide you with the fundamental skills and techniques needed to become a proficient swimmer.

Furthermore, I would like to propose that we learn this sport together. It would be a great way to stay active while spending quality time together. We could set regular days to go for practice and motivate each other to improve swimming abilities.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this suggestion. Let's discuss the possibility of embarking on the new fitness journey together.

With Love,

Henry

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You clearly recommend swimming, explain how to learn it by mentioning local pools and instructors, and propose learning together. The tone is appropriate for an email to a friend, and the purpose is clear throughout. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the prompt. To reach a higher band, you could provide slightly more detail on the 'how' aspect, such as mentioning specific types of classes or the duration of the commitment, but overall, the task requirements are fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The email is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each requirement, and a closing. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different points. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'These classes', and 'It would be' are used appropriately to link ideas and sentences. The progression of information is smooth and easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, and the overall structure supports the reader's understanding of the message.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for this informal task. Phrases like 'keen on taking up', 'rewarding experience', and 'embarking on the new fitness journey' show a good command of natural English. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede meaning. While the vocabulary is sufficient and accurate, incorporating a few more idiomatic expressions or less common collocations could elevate the response further toward the higher band descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. There is a minor error in the phrase 'I would suggest you to learn', which should be 'I would suggest that you learn' or 'I would suggest learning'. However, this does not impede communication. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. The control over complex structures is good, and the occasional minor slips do not detract from the overall clarity of the writing.

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