Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-28

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 9.0)

Subject: A Sport I Think You’ll Love

Hi Alex,

I hope you’ve been doing well. I remember you mentioned wanting to pick up a new sport, so I’ve been thinking about what might suit you best. Given your love for the outdoors and your preference for activities that combine fitness with fun, I think tennis would be a perfect choice.

Tennis is great for improving stamina, coordination, and reflexes, and it’s also a fantastic way to meet new people. Since you enjoy social activities, joining a local tennis club could give you both a workout and a friendly community.

To get started, I’d suggest booking a few beginner lessons at the Riverside Sports Centre. They have excellent coaches who focus on technique and make learning enjoyable. You could also watch some online tutorials to familiarise yourself with the rules and basic strokes before your first session. Once you’re comfortable, we could play together on weekends — it would be a fun way to practise and stay motivated.

Let me know if you’d like me to help you book your first lesson. I’m sure you’ll pick it up quickly and enjoy it as much as I do.

Best,

Sophie

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You clearly recommend tennis, explain how to learn it by suggesting lessons at the Riverside Sports Centre and online tutorials, and propose learning it together. The tone is appropriate for an email to a friend, and the ideas are well-developed and relevant. The purpose of the email is clear from the beginning, and the closing is natural and friendly. You have successfully met all the requirements of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The email is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Since you enjoy...', 'To get started...', and 'Once you’re comfortable...', which help guide the reader through the text. The paragraphing is appropriate for an informal email, and the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 9.0

You demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary that is natural and appropriate for the context. Phrases such as 'pick up a new sport', 'stamina, coordination, and reflexes', and 'familiarise yourself with the rules' show a good command of language. The word choice is precise and contributes to the friendly yet informative tone of the email. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary is used with flexibility and ease.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The response exhibits a high level of grammatical accuracy. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences with subordinating conjunctions ('Since you enjoy...', 'Once you’re comfortable...'), which are handled correctly. Punctuation is used accurately throughout, and there are no noticeable errors in grammar. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and aspect is consistent with the requirements of the task.

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