Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-22

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 the excellent service provided by your hotel when my company recently held an event there. I would also like to share some feedback that may help you maintain and further improve your services.

The event was a corporate training and networking session organised for approximately 80 employees. It was held in one of your conference rooms last Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The hotel staff arranged the seating, audio-visual equipment and refreshments, while lunch was served in the adjoining dining area.

What I particularly appreciated was the professionalism and attentiveness of your staff. They responded promptly to our requests and ensured that the event ran smoothly throughout the day. I was also impressed by the cleanliness of the venue, the quality of the food and the comfortable, well-equipped conference room. These features created a very pleasant and productive environment for our employees.

However, there are a few areas that could be improved. The Wi-Fi connection was somewhat unstable during the morning session, which caused brief interruptions to our presentations. In addition, the registration area was rather small, resulting in some congestion when guests arrived. Providing a stronger internet connection and allocating a larger space for registration would make future events even more successful.

Overall, we were highly satisfied with our experience and would be pleased to consider your hotel for future corporate events. Thank you for your assistance and for making our occasion a success.

Yours faithfully,

Mann

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You provided clear details about the event (corporate training, 80 employees, time/date), identified specific aspects you liked (staff professionalism, cleanliness, food quality), and offered constructive suggestions for improvement (Wi-Fi stability and registration space). The tone is consistently professional and appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. The purpose of the letter is clear from the outset, and the ideas are well-developed and relevant throughout. You have successfully met all the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, and the transition between the positive feedback and the constructive criticism is handled smoothly using the cohesive device 'However'. You use a variety of linking words and phrases such as 'In addition', 'Overall', and 'while', which help the text flow naturally. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the message. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of cohesive devices.

Lexical Resource — Band 9.0

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal business context. Phrases such as 'attentiveness of your staff', 'responded promptly', and 'well-equipped conference room' show a high level of lexical control. The language is natural and sophisticated, with no errors in word choice or collocation. You successfully use topic-specific vocabulary related to event management, which enhances the professional tone of the letter. The vocabulary is used with flexibility and precision throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You use a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as the use of relative clauses ('that may help you') and participial phrases ('resulting in some congestion'). Punctuation is used correctly to support the structure of your sentences. There are no grammatical errors, and the control over tense and aspect is consistent with the context of reporting on a past event and making future suggestions. The writing is error-free and highly readable.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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