Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-14

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 8.5)

Dear Luis,

I am writing to offer my help at the upcoming event celebrating popular food from around the world. I would be delighted to prepare halwa for the event, as I have made it several times and can prepare enough for a group of students.

For those who are unfamiliar with it, halwa is a traditional sweet dish that is commonly prepared with semolina, milk, sugar and ghee. It has a soft, rich texture and a deliciously sweet flavour. It is usually garnished with nuts such as almonds and pistachios and is often served warm. In my culture, halwa is particularly popular during festivals, family gatherings and other special occasions.

I believe halwa would be an excellent addition to the event because it represents an important part of our food culture and gives international students an opportunity to try something new. Moreover, it is easy to prepare in large quantities and can be served conveniently to many people. I am sure that its rich flavour and aroma would make it popular among the attendees.

Please let me know if you would like me to prepare it for the event. I would be happy to contribute.

Best wishes,

Sam

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 a dish, provide a detailed description of the ingredients and texture of 'halwa', and offer a logical explanation for why it would be a valuable addition to the international food 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.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the offer to the description and finally the justification. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'For those who are unfamiliar with it', 'Moreover', and 'In my culture', which help to guide the reader through the text. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the context of food and cultural events. Phrases like 'traditional sweet dish', 'rich texture', 'garnished with', and 'prepared in large quantities' are used accurately and naturally. The vocabulary is precise and contributes to the clarity of your description. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is appropriate for the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The writing exhibits a high level of grammatical accuracy. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences, with confidence. For example, 'I believe halwa would be an excellent addition to the event because it represents an important part of our food culture' shows good control over subordinate clauses. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable errors that impede communication. The grammar is consistent and supports the overall clarity of the message.

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