Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-27

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 or Madam,

I am writing to express my concern about the possible closure of the local sports and leisure centre. My family, friends and I use this facility regularly, and I believe that closing it would have a negative impact on our community.

I usually visit the centre three or four times a week to use the gym and swimming pool. On weekends, my friends and I often play badminton there. My younger brother also attends swimming lessons at the centre, while my parents sometimes take part in fitness classes.

The centre is extremely important to the local community because it provides people of all ages with an affordable place to exercise and socialise. It also encourages residents to maintain a healthy lifestyle. In addition, children and teenagers can spend their free time participating in sports in a safe environment.

If the centre closes, many residents may have difficulty finding affordable sports facilities nearby. Young people could also lose a safe place to spend their free time, while elderly residents may have fewer opportunities to exercise and meet others.

Yours faithfully,

Dhiraj

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explain how you and your family use the centre, provide logical reasons for its importance to the community, and describe the potential negative consequences of its closure. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a local council, and the position is consistent throughout. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, showing a clear understanding of the task requirements. No parts of the prompt are omitted, and the response is well-structured to meet the needs of the reader.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organised with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a formal closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'while', and 'If the centre closes', to link your ideas. The progression of information is smooth, and the paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different points requested in the prompt. The overall structure is coherent and professional.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the context of a formal letter. Phrases like 'negative impact', 'maintain a healthy lifestyle', and 'affordable sports facilities' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it is generally standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common collocations, such as 'vital community hub' or 'detrimental consequences'. However, the current range is sufficient for the task and there are no errors in word choice that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your grammar is consistently accurate, and you use a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. For example, the use of conditional sentences ('If the centre closes, many residents may have...') and subordinate clauses ('...while my parents sometimes take part in fitness classes') shows good control. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no significant errors that distract the reader. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which indicates a high level of grammatical competence suitable for this task.

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

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