Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-25

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 8.5)

Dear Luis,

I am writing to offer my help with the upcoming international food event. I would be delighted to prepare Gujarati dhokla, one of the most popular traditional dishes from my home state of Gujarat, India.

Dhokla is a soft and fluffy savoury snack made mainly from fermented gram flour and spices. It is usually steamed rather than fried and is served with green chutney, sweet tamarind chutney and sometimes fried mustard seeds and curry leaves as a garnish. It has a light texture and a slightly tangy flavour, making it suitable for people with different food preferences.

I believe dhokla should be included in the event because it would give international students an opportunity to experience an authentic Indian dish that is both delicious and relatively healthy. It is also vegetarian and can be prepared in large quantities, making it ideal for serving a diverse group of students. Moreover, its distinctive texture and flavour would add variety to the dishes from other countries.

I would be happy to prepare enough dhokla for the attendees and explain its cultural significance during the event. Please let me know if you would like me to bring any additional ingredients or equipment.

I look forward to participating in the celebration.

Yours sincerely,

Vraj Patel

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly offer to make a dish, provide a detailed description of the Gujarati dhokla, and offer logical, well-supported reasons for its inclusion in the event, such as its health benefits and suitability for a diverse group. The tone is consistently appropriate for a letter to an event organiser, maintaining a professional yet enthusiastic register throughout. All bullet points are covered in depth, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the offer to the description, then to the justification, and finally to the closing. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'It is also', and 'because' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is skilful, and the flow of information is natural, making the letter very easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary. Terms like 'fermented', 'garnish', 'tangy', and 'cultural significance' are used accurately and in the correct context. The language is natural and sophisticated, showing a high level of control over word choice and collocation. There are no errors in spelling or word usage, and the vocabulary is well-suited to the topic of food and event planning, contributing to a very professional tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You successfully use a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the participial phrase 'making it ideal for serving a diverse group of students'. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical errors. The control over verb tenses and sentence construction is excellent, with the majority of sentences being error-free and demonstrating a high level of fluency.

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

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