Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-28

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

It is ten years since you left college. You'd like to organise an event to celebrate this anniversary with all your friends and classmates from college.

Write a letter to one of your college friends. In your letter

• say what kind of celebration event you'd like to organise

• explain why you think it would be good to celebrate in this way

• describe what help you need to organise this event

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ....................................,

Student answer (Band 8.5)

Dear John,

I hope you’re doing well! It is hard to believe, but a full decade has passed since we walked out of university as graduates. To mark this ten-year milestone, I am planning a reunion gathering for our former graduating class and would love for you to be involved.

The plan is to host an informal evening reception where we can bring together roughly fifty alumni, along with a few of our former professors and the department head. An event like this feels like the perfect way to celebrate, as it offers everyone a comfortable space to reconnect, reflect on shared memories from our college days, and exchange updates on our personal and professional lives after a decade apart.

While I am currently overseeing the venue booking and catering details, I could really use a hand with a couple of tasks. Would you be able to take charge of reaching out to the academic staff to extend our invitations? Additionally, if you could arrive at the venue slightly early on the day to help coordinate the seating arrangements and test the sound system, I would immensely appreciate it.

Let me know what you think, and I look forward to catching up properly soon.

Warm regards,

Mark

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.5

The response fully satisfies all requirements of the task. The writer successfully adopts the required semi-formal tone to write to a college friend. All three bullet points are thoroughly covered and well-developed: the first clearly specifies an informal evening reception for alumni and professors, the second provides a strong rationale regarding creating a comfortable space to reconnect and share updates after a decade, and the third describes specific help needed with inviting academic staff and managing early arrival tasks. The purpose of the letter is crystal clear from the outset, and the ideas flow logically to form a cohesive and purposeful communication.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.5

Coherence and cohesion are managed expertly. The letter is logically sequenced, beginning with a natural greeting and nostalgic opening, progressing to the core purpose and reasons for the event, and concluding with a clear request for assistance and a warm sign-off. Paragraphing is used logically and effectively, with each paragraph dedicated to a distinct thematic aspect of the plan (introduction/milestone, event details/rationale, requested help, and closing). Cohesive devices are handled naturally and unobtrusively, ensuring that the reader transitions smoothly between ideas without any mechanical stiffness.

Lexical Resource: Band 8.5

The student demonstrates a wide, flexible, and natural lexical range appropriate for a semi-formal task. Vocabulary such as 'decade milestone', 'informal evening reception', 'alumni', and 'professional lives' flows effortlessly and showcases precision. Collocations and stylistic choices are accurate, and less common lexical items are employed skillfully without appearing forced. There are no spelling or word-choice errors, demonstrating sophisticated control of vocabulary and a strong awareness of tone suitable for a letter to an old peer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.5

The response features a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences with multiple clauses (e.g., 'An event like this feels like the perfect way to celebrate, as it offers everyone a comfortable space to reconnect...'). The majority of sentences are entirely error-free, and punctuation is managed with absolute precision. Control over verb tenses is maintained across past references ('walked out of university'), present states ('I am planning'), and future possibilities ('Would you be able to'), reflecting a high level of grammatical versatility and accuracy.

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