Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 am writing to offer my help with the upcoming international food event. I would be delighted to prepare a popular dish from my country, Srilanka, called chicken biryani.

Chicken biryani is a delicious and aromatic rice dish made with basmati rice, chicken, onions, and a variety of traditional spices. The rice and chicken are cooked together slowly so that the flavors blends well. It is usually served with a fresh salad, boiled eggs, or a spicy sauce. Although it requires several ingredients, it is easy to prepare in large quantities, making it suitable for the event.

I believe chicken biriyani should be included because it is one of most popular dishes in Srilanka. More importantly, it would give international students an opportunity to experience the rich flavors and cooking traditions of my nation. I would also be glad to explain the ingredients and cooking process to other team members.

Please let me know if you would like me to prepare the dish and how many people i should cater for. I look forward to contributing to this exciting event.

Yours sincerely,

Vijay

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You clearly offer to make a dish, provide a descriptive explanation of the chicken biryani, and justify its inclusion in the event by highlighting its popularity and cultural value. The tone is appropriate for a letter to an event organiser, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, showing a good understanding of the task requirements. No parts of the prompt were missed, and the response maintains a consistent focus throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use appropriate cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'More importantly', and 'I would also be glad to' to link your sentences and ideas effectively. The paragraphing is sufficient and contributes to the overall clarity of the message. The flow between the introduction, body, and conclusion is smooth and natural.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for the context, such as 'aromatic', 'quantities', 'cater', and 'contributing'. The language is natural and precise enough to convey your message without any confusion. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common collocations could elevate the score further. Overall, the lexical range is more than adequate for this task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response shows a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar is generally strong. There is a minor subject-verb agreement error ('flavors blends') and a minor punctuation/capitalisation slip ('i should cater'). However, these are rare and do not impede communication. Your use of complex sentences, such as 'Although it requires several ingredients, it is easy to prepare...', demonstrates a solid grasp of grammatical structures. Punctuation is generally accurate throughout the letter.

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

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