Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-07-24

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You recently helped your company organise an event at a hotel. Write a letter to the hotel manager. In your letter:

– Provide details about the event
– Mention what you particularly liked about the hotel
– Suggest areas for improvement.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir / Madam,

Student answer (Band 9.0)

Dear Sir / Madam,

I am writing to thank you for hosting our company's annual sales conference at your hotel last month, and to share some feedback on our experience.

The event was held in your Grand Ballroom on the 14th of June and was attended by around 120 employees from our regional offices. It included a full day of presentations, a panel discussion, and an awards dinner in the evening. The conference required audio-visual equipment, a stage setup, and catering for both lunch and dinner, all of which your team arranged efficiently.

I would particularly like to commend your staff for their professionalism and attentiveness throughout the day. The banquet team was quick to respond to last-minute requests, such as rearranging seating and adjusting the room temperature, and this made a real difference to how smoothly the event ran. I was also impressed by the quality of the food served at dinner, which received many compliments from our guests, as well as the elegant décor of the ballroom, which created an excellent atmosphere for our awards ceremony.

That said, I would like to suggest a few areas where improvements could be made for future events. Firstly, the Wi-Fi connection in the ballroom was unreliable at times, which caused some disruption during presentations that relied on online tools. It would be helpful if this could be looked into before our next booking. Secondly, the check-in process for our guests took longer than expected, as there appeared to be only one staff member on duty at the reception desk during a busy period; additional staff at peak times would help avoid such delays.

Overall, we were very satisfied with the event and would be happy to consider your hotel for future functions. I would appreciate it if the points mentioned above could be addressed.

Thank you once again for your hospitality.

Yours faithfully,

Shubham Pal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly provided details about the event, such as the date and the number of attendees, and effectively balanced positive feedback regarding the staff and décor with constructive suggestions for improvement, specifically the Wi-Fi and reception staffing. The tone is consistently professional and appropriate for a formal letter to a hotel manager. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have successfully met all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the introduction to the event details, the positive feedback, the suggestions for improvement, and finally the conclusion. You have used a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'That said,' 'Firstly,' and 'Secondly,' which help guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow throughout the entire response.

Lexical Resource — Band 9.0

You demonstrate a wide and natural range of vocabulary that is well-suited to a formal business context. Phrases such as 'commend your staff,' 'attentiveness,' 'unreliable at times,' and 'hospitality' show a high level of lexical control. The word choices are precise and contribute to the professional tone of the letter. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary is used with flexibility to convey your message clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You have successfully used complex sentences, such as 'The event was held in your Grand Ballroom on the 14th of June and was attended by around 120 employees,' and 'It would be helpful if this could be looked into before our next booking.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical errors that impede communication. The control over tense and sentence structure is excellent, reflecting a high level of proficiency.

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