Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-07-30

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 8.5)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to express my appreciation for the excellent service your hotel provided during our company's annual employee recognition event, which was held on last Saturday.

I was particularly impressed by the professoinalism and friendliness of your staff. They ensured that everything ran smoothly, from welcoming our guests to serving the meals on time. In addition, the banquet hall was spacious, beautifully decorated, and equipped with high-quality audio-visual facilities, which contributed significantly to the success of the event. The food was also delicious, and many of our colleagues complimented the variety and quality of the menu.

Although our experience was overwhelmingly positive, I would like to suggest a couple of improvements. The parking area was rather limited, causing inconvenience for some guests. Furthermore, clearer directional signs inside the hotel would help visitors locate the banquet hall more easily.

Thank you once again for your outstanding hospitality. I look forward to working with your hotel again for future events.

Yours faithfully,

Prarthana Patil

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You provided clear details about the event (annual employee recognition, held last Saturday), highlighted specific positive aspects (staff professionalism, banquet hall facilities, food quality), and offered constructive suggestions for improvement (parking and signage). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager, and the purpose of the communication is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, meeting all the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which makes the letter easy to follow. You used appropriate cohesive devices such as 'In addition,' 'Although,' and 'Furthermore' to link your sentences and paragraphs smoothly. The structure is professional, and the use of paragraphing is sufficient and appropriate for a formal letter. There is a clear sense of flow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal business context, such as 'appreciation,' 'professionalism,' 'contributed significantly,' and 'outstanding hospitality.' There is one minor spelling error ('professoinalism'), but this is a rare slip and does not impede communication. The word choices are generally precise and natural. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate slightly more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions, but the current range is more than adequate for the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The letter exhibits a good range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences (e.g., 'Although our experience was overwhelmingly positive, I would like to suggest...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense usage is strong. The grammar is accurate, and the tone is consistently formal. There are no significant errors that cause confusion or difficulty for the reader, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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