Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-18

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 / Madam,

I am writing to thank you for the excellent service provided by your hotel during the corporate event that our company organised last week. The event was a two-day annual conference for approximately 120 employees and included presentations, team-building activities and a formal dinner.

We were particularly impressed with the professionalism of your staff and the quality of the conference facilities. The meeting room was spacious, well-equipped and comfortable, while the catering was excellent and offered a good variety of dishes. I also appreciated how promptly the staff responded to our requests throughout the event.

However, there are a few areas that could be improved. Some guests experienced delays during check-in, and the Wi-Fi connection in the conference room was occasionally unreliable. It would also be helpful to provide clearer signs directing guests to the meeting rooms.

Overall, we were very pleased with our experience and would certainly consider using your hotel for future company events. Thank you once again for your hospitality and support.

Yours faithfully,

John James

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

You have fully addressed all parts of the task. You provided clear details about the event, such as the duration and the number of attendees. You successfully highlighted the professionalism of the staff and the quality of the facilities as positive aspects. Furthermore, you offered constructive suggestions for improvement, specifically regarding the check-in process, Wi-Fi reliability, and signage. The tone is consistently appropriate for a formal letter to a hotel manager, and the purpose of the communication is clear from the outset. The response is well-structured and covers all bullet points thoroughly, demonstrating a clear understanding of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the purpose of the letter to positive feedback, then to constructive criticism, and finally to a polite closing. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'However,' 'Furthermore,' and 'Overall,' which help guide the reader through your points. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the relationship between ideas is clear throughout. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, and the overall flow is natural and professional.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is well-suited to a formal business context. Phrases such as 'corporate event,' 'professionalism of your staff,' and 'well-equipped' are used accurately. The language is precise and conveys your meaning clearly without any awkward phrasing. While the vocabulary is not overly complex, it is perfectly appropriate for the task and shows a good level of control. You have successfully avoided repetition and maintained a professional tone throughout the letter, which is essential for this type of correspondence.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

Your writing displays a high level of grammatical accuracy. You have used a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences, with no noticeable errors. Punctuation is used correctly, and the tone is consistently formal. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over verb tenses and word order is excellent. There are no slips that impede communication or distract the reader. The grammatical range is sufficient to express your ideas clearly and professionally, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

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