Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-25

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You are a member of an International Students' club. The club is organising an event to celebrate popular food from around the world.

Write a letter to the event organiser, Luis. In your letter

• offer to make a popular dish from your country
• describe what this dish is
• explain why it should be included in the event

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Luis,

Student answer (Band 9.0)

Dear Luis,

I hope you are doing well. I was delighted to hear that our International Student's club is organising a food festival to celebrate dishes from different countries. I would love to contribute by preparing Gujarati Dhokla, one of the most popular traditional snacks from my country, India.

Dhokla is a soft, steamed savoury cake made from fermented chickpea flour. It has a light and fluffy texture and is usually garnished with mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chillies and fresh coriander. It is often served with mint or tamarind chutney, which gives it a refreshing and tangy flavour.

I believe this dish would be an excellent addition to the event because it is not only delicious but also healthy, as it is steamed rather than fried. Moreover, it is suitable for both vegetarians and many people with dietary restrictions. Its unique taste and vibrant appearance would allow participants to experience an authentic part of Indian culture.

Please let me know if you would like me to prepare enough for everyone attending the event.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

Aesha Patel

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You have clearly offered to make a dish, provided a vivid description of the Gujarati Dhokla, and offered a logical explanation for its inclusion in the event. The tone is consistently appropriate for a letter to an event organiser, maintaining a helpful and professional register throughout. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, showing a clear understanding of the task requirements. There are no omissions, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have successfully met all the requirements of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the introduction to the description, the justification, and finally the closing offer. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'not only... but also', and 'because' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is smooth and easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, and the overall structure supports the reader's understanding perfectly.

Lexical Resource — Band 9.0

You have demonstrated a wide and precise range of vocabulary. The use of descriptive terms such as 'fermented', 'garnished', 'tangy', and 'vibrant' is excellent and adds significant detail to your writing. The language is natural and sophisticated, fitting the context of a food festival perfectly. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary is used with high precision. You have successfully employed less common items to convey specific meanings, which elevates the quality of the response significantly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences, with full flexibility and accuracy. You have used a variety of sentence types, such as relative clauses ('which gives it a refreshing...') and participial phrases ('steamed rather than fried'), without any errors. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and the grammar is error-free. The control over tense and aspect is consistent, and the overall construction of the letter is highly polished, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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