Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-05

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 the International Students' Club is organising a food festival to celebrate cuisines from around the world. I would be happy to contribute by preparing **Chicken Biryani**, one of the most popular and well-loved dishes from my country, India.

Chicken Biryani is a fragrant rice dish made with basmati rice, marinated chicken, yoghurt, aromatic spices, herbs, and caramelised onions. It is cooked slowly so that all the flavours blend together, resulting in a rich and delicious meal. It is usually served with raita, a yoghurt-based side dish that complements the spices perfectly.

I believe Chicken Biryani would be an excellent addition to the event because it represents the diversity and rich culinary heritage of Indian cuisine. It is enjoyed by people of all ages and is often prepared for festivals, weddings, and other special occasions. Since it offers a unique combination of flavours and aromas, I am sure many students would enjoy trying it, especially those who have never tasted authentic Indian food before. I would also be happy to explain how it is prepared and answer any questions about its cultural significance during the event.

Please let me know if there are any specific arrangements I should make or if you need me to bring anything besides the food.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

Sathya Prakash

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly offer to make Chicken Biryani, provide a vivid description of the dish, and offer a logical explanation for why it is a suitable choice for the event. The tone is consistently appropriate for a letter to an event organiser, maintaining a helpful and enthusiastic persona throughout. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, demonstrating a clear understanding of the task requirements. There are no omissions, and the content is perfectly aligned with the purpose of the letter.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving smoothly from the offer to the description and finally to the justification. Cohesive devices such as 'since', 'because', and 'in addition' are used naturally to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is skilful, and the transition between the description of the dish and the explanation of its cultural significance is seamless. The overall structure is coherent and easy to follow, with no mechanical or repetitive use of linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary throughout the letter. Phrases such as 'fragrant rice dish', 'culinary heritage', 'aromatic spices', and 'cultural significance' are used accurately and naturally. The vocabulary is well-suited to the context of describing food and cultural events. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is sophisticated enough to convey your message with clarity and flair. The lexical control is consistent and impressive for this task type.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The writing exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences with relative clauses ('...dishes from my country, India') and conditional structures. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly to enhance readability. You demonstrate excellent control over verb tenses, particularly when describing the preparation process and the reasons for your choice. There are no noticeable grammatical slips, and the accuracy is maintained throughout the entire text, reflecting a high level of proficiency.

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

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