Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-30

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 suggest a popular dish from my country, India, that I would be happy to prepare for the upcoming international food event.

The dish I would like to make is **butter chicken**, a well-known Indian meal that is especially popular for its rich and creamy flavour. It consists of tender pieces of chicken cooked in a tomato-based sauce with butter, cream and a blend of aromatic spices. It is usually served with naan or rice.

I believe butter chicken would be an excellent addition to the event because it represents the rich and diverse flavours of Indian cuisine. It is also suitable for people who may not be familiar with Indian food, as its creamy and mildly spiced taste is generally enjoyed by a wide range of people. Moreover, sharing this dish would give students from other countries an opportunity to experience a traditional part of Indian culture.

I would be delighted to prepare the dish and introduce everyone to its unique taste.

Yours sincerely,

Jashan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You clearly offer to prepare butter chicken, provide a descriptive explanation of the dish, and justify its inclusion in the event by highlighting its appeal to a broad audience and its cultural significance. 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, demonstrating a strong understanding of the task requirements. There are no omissions, and the content is consistently focused on the prompt.

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 introduction to the description of the dish, the justification for its inclusion, and the closing. Cohesive devices such as 'The dish I would like to make is', 'It is also suitable for', and 'Moreover' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is coherent, making the letter easy to follow from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for the context. Phrases such as 'rich and creamy flavour', 'blend of aromatic spices', and 'diverse flavours of Indian cuisine' show a natural and precise use of language. The vocabulary is varied and fits the topic well without being repetitive. While the language is not overly complex, it is accurate and sophisticated enough to convey your message clearly and effectively. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The writing is highly accurate, with a variety of sentence structures used correctly. You successfully employ complex sentences, such as 'I believe butter chicken would be an excellent addition to the event because it represents the rich and diverse flavours of Indian cuisine.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical errors that impede communication. The control over grammar is consistent, and the majority of sentences are error-free, 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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