Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-27
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 8.0)
Dear Liam,
Hi! How're you? I hope this letter finds you in good spirits! I'm just writing in response to your letter seeking my advice on taking up a new sport.
I think you should learn to play cricket, as you really enjoy team sports. Also, it would be suitable for your weekly schedule, as most of the games are played on weekends, so you don't have to worry about dedicating extra time to this game.
To learn this sport, you can contact a Lions Club in Brampton, they are having the best coaches as compared to nearby cities. Although it needs a lot of energy on the field, I believe with your strong will-power, you would definitely be able to become an expert in no time. Moreover, you can practice at home anytime in your garage, and it will help you achieve your desired target.
If you're ok, why don't you join me? I go to play cricket every Sunday, and it will be pretty fun, if you join me. Just text me, and let me know your thoughts about this.
Let's catch up on coffee someday!
Warm regards,
Andrew
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.0 |
| Overall | 8.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5
The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You recommended cricket, explained how to learn it by contacting a local club, and invited your friend to join you. The tone is appropriate for an email to a friend, maintaining a friendly and informal register throughout. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the suggestion to join a local club and the personal invitation to play together. The purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning, and the response flows logically from one point to the next, fulfilling all requirements of the prompt effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5
The letter is well-organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your ideas easily. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'Also', 'Although', 'Moreover', and 'If you're ok' to link your sentences and ideas. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from the recommendation to the practical steps for learning, and finally to the social invitation. The use of referencing is clear, and the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow throughout the entire email.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an informal email. Phrases like 'in good spirits', 'seeking my advice', and 'strong will-power' show a natural command of English. While some vocabulary is relatively simple, it is used accurately and fits the context well. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions, but the current range is sufficient to convey your message clearly and effectively in this task.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0
The response shows good control over a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use conditional sentences ('If you're ok, why don't you join me?') and complex sentences with subordinating conjunctions ('Although it needs a lot of energy... I believe...') effectively. Punctuation is generally accurate, and the grammar is mostly error-free. There are only very occasional minor slips, such as 'they are having the best coaches', which could be more naturally phrased as 'they have the best coaches'. Overall, the grammatical accuracy is high and supports clear communication.
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