Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-03

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 8.0)

Dear Luis,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to offer to make a popular Indian dish for the International Students’ Club food celebration.

I would like to prepare butter chicken with naan. Butter chicken is a traditional Indian dish made with tender pieces of chicken cooked in a rich tomato and cream sauce with a mixture of aromatic spices. It is usually served with naan bread or rice and is loved by people of all ages.

I believe this dish should be included in the event because it represents the rich culture and diverse flavours of India. It is not too spicy, so students from different countries can enjoy it. In addition, it is one of the most well-known Indian dishes around the world, making it a great choice for introducing others to Indian cuisine.

Please let me know if you would like me to prepare this dish. I would be happy to help make the event enjoyable and memorable.

Yours sincerely,

Bhupinder Kumar

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly offer to make a dish, provide a vivid description of butter chicken, and offer logical, well-supported reasons for its inclusion in the event. The tone is appropriate for a letter to an event organiser, maintaining a polite and helpful persona throughout. The ideas are well-developed and directly relevant to the task instructions, showing a clear understanding of the requirements. There are no omissions, and the purpose of the letter is established immediately and maintained until the closing.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the offer to the description and finally the justification. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition' and 'because', to link your points smoothly. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is natural, making the letter very easy to follow. The transition between the description of the dish and the explanation of why it is suitable for the event is particularly well-managed, ensuring a cohesive reading experience.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the context. Phrases such as 'rich tomato and cream sauce', 'aromatic spices', and 'diverse flavours' show an ability to use descriptive language effectively. The word choice is precise and natural throughout the letter. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it stays within a relatively standard range. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate slightly more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions, but the current level is more than sufficient for clear and effective communication in this task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of sentence structures used correctly. You successfully employ complex sentences, such as 'I believe this dish should be included in the event because it represents the rich culture and diverse flavours of India.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable errors in tense or subject-verb agreement. The writing is fluent and error-free, demonstrating a strong command of English syntax. The control over complex structures is consistent, contributing to the overall professional tone of the letter.

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

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