Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · 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 8.5)
Dear Lara,
How are you doing? I hope you are doing well. I am writing in response to your letter about learning a new sport, and I would love to recommend volleyball.
I am currently learning volleyball with a team of amazing ladies in our estate courtyard, and I have been enjoying every session. One great thing about volleyball is that you do not need to buy any expensive equipment—you just play using your hands! You can also watch a few YouTube videos to see how the game is played.
If you like, we can practice together in our free time on weekdays. Then, we can join the other ladies on weekends to practice more and build our skills.
Last but not least, you will need some comfortable sportswear so you can move around easily. Don't worry—I can go to the market with you to help you pick out something nice!
I will stop here for now and wait for your reply.
Warm regards,
Jennifer
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5
The response successfully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly recommend volleyball, explain how to learn it through YouTube and practice, and suggest learning together. The tone is appropriate for an informal email to a friend. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, providing a coherent and friendly response that fully satisfies the requirements of the task. The structure is logical, and the content is focused, ensuring the reader understands your suggestions and the invitation to join you.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5
The email is well-organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow your train of thought easily. You use appropriate cohesive devices such as 'One great thing about', 'If you like', and 'Last but not least' to link your points. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall flow of the letter. The use of referencing is clear, and the transition between the recommendation and the invitation is smooth.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an informal email. Phrases like 'amazing ladies', 'expensive equipment', and 'comfortable sportswear' are used accurately and naturally. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it is generally standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more precise or descriptive adjectives and idiomatic expressions that are common in informal English, such as 'pick up a new hobby' or 'get the hang of it'. Overall, the lexical range is sufficient and there are no errors that impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5
The grammar is accurate throughout the response. You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively, such as the conditional sentence 'If you like, we can practice together...' and the compound sentence 'I am currently learning volleyball... and I have been enjoying every session.' Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no significant grammatical errors. The control over verb tenses is consistent, and the sentence construction is error-free, which reflects a high level of grammatical competence.
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