Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-05

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You are planning a business trip to another city. You will have some free time to do some sightseeing while you are there.
 

Write a letter to a friend who lives in the city you will visit. In your letter:
• explain the purpose of the trip.
• ask about things to do and see in the city.
• invite your friend to do something with you during your visit.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ____

Student answer (Band 8.5)

Dear Mike,

I hope you are doing well. I'm thrilled to let you know that I'm finally visiting your city. It has been a while since we last met, so this is the perfect opportunity for us to catch up.

As you know, our company is expanding its projects to other cities across the country, and I have been chosen to oversee the project in your city. We are building a new entertainment facility, so I'm happy to say I will be staying for a while.

I have heard a lot of wonderful things about your city and have seen so many beautiful photos. However, I don't know much about the best places to go or things to do, so I would really appreciate it if you could give me some recommendations.

This also means we absolutely have to meet up. I really miss our university days and would love to spend some quality time together. I think skiing would be the perfect activity for us. I would also love to take you out to the best restaurant in town—my treat!

Looking forward to catching up soon.

Best regards,

Emily

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly explain the purpose of the trip (overseeing a new entertainment facility project), ask for recommendations regarding sightseeing, and extend a warm invitation to meet up. The tone is consistently appropriate for a letter to a friend, maintaining a friendly and informal register throughout. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the communication is clear from the outset. You have successfully balanced the professional context of the trip with the personal nature of the letter, ensuring all requirements are met with sufficient detail.

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 prompt, moving smoothly from the purpose of the visit to requests for information and finally to the invitation. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'As you know,' 'However,' and 'This also means,' which help to connect your thoughts naturally. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is coherent, making the letter very easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive transitions.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and natural range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the context of a friendly letter. Phrases such as 'thrilled to let you know,' 'oversee the project,' and 'quality time' are used accurately and naturally. The vocabulary is precise and contributes to the overall tone of the piece. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is sophisticated enough to convey your meaning clearly and effectively without being overly formal or forced.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The writing exhibits a high level of grammatical control. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences, with very high accuracy. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical slips that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the flow of the text is smooth. Your control over verb tenses, particularly when discussing future plans and past memories, is excellent, reflecting a strong command of English grammar.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.