Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-24

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Write a letter to the local council. In your letter

• give details of how you and your friends or family use the centre
• explain why the sports and leisure centre is important for the local community
• describe the possible effects on local people if the centre closes

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 8.0)

Dear Sir,

I am writing this to express my deep concern about the closure of the recreational centre in our town. I believe that this facility should remain open as it plays a vital role in the community.

Firstly, my family uses the sports and leisure centre almost every day of the week. I usually attend the yoga classes on the weekend while my husband goes to the gym four times a week. We have a six-month-old child who joins swimming classes. Thus, this is the place has become an essential part of our daily life as it aids us to focus on fitness and overall well- being.

Further, there is only one recreational centre that provides several different facilities including an indoor playground, swimming pool, gym and many more which are quite affordable and keep the community focused on their health and mental well- being. This brings the community together by hosting different events related to sports and fitness.

If the recreational centre shuts down, people will lose access to the affordable opportunities that this provides. Young people may show a lack of interest in sports activities and seniors may become less energetic when they stay isolated. Overall, this approach could have a negative impact on the unity of the community and their health.

Looking forward for the positive response.

Yours faithfully,

Navjot

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task effectively. You clearly explained how your family uses the centre, why it is important for the community, and the potential negative consequences of its closure. Your tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a council, and your position is consistent throughout. The ideas are well-developed, providing specific examples such as yoga classes, gym sessions, and swimming lessons for your child. To reach a higher band, you could further expand on the 'community' aspect by discussing specific social benefits or local events in slightly more detail, but overall, the task is fully covered.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each requirement, and a formal closing. You use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Further', and 'If the recreational centre shuts down' to guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the relationship between the closure of the centre and the impact on the community is clearly established. The flow is natural, and the use of referencing is generally accurate throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to express your ideas with precision. Phrases like 'vital role', 'essential part of our daily life', and 'negative impact' are used correctly. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, such as 'recreational' and 'well-being'. While the vocabulary is adequate and fits the context well, it is generally functional rather than sophisticated. To improve, try to incorporate more varied collocations or idiomatic expressions that are suitable for formal correspondence to demonstrate a wider, more flexible range of lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. For example, the use of conditional sentences ('If the recreational centre shuts down, people will lose...') is accurate and adds complexity. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is good. There are minor slips, such as 'this is the place has become' (an unnecessary 'is') and 'Looking forward for the positive response' (should be 'to'). However, these errors are rare and do not impede communication. Your grammar is generally strong and supports the clarity of your message.

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