Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You work for an international company. You have seen an advertisement for a training course which will be useful for your job.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter

• describe the training course you want to do
• explain what the company could do to help you
• say how the course will be useful for your job

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 8.0)

Dear Manager,

I am writing to request your approval to attend a professional training course that I believe would be highly beneficial for my role in our company.

The course is a three-day online programme called Advanced Business Communication and Project Coordination, organized by an international training institute. It focuses on communication skills, project planning, teamwork, and effective client management. The course will be held next month during weekday evenings.

I would appreciate it if the company could support me by covering the course fee and allowing me flexible working hours during the training period. Since the sessions are scheduled after work, I do not expect my responsibilities to be affected significantly.

I believe this course will improve my communication with international clients and colleagues, enhance my organisational skills, and help me manage projects more efficiently. These skills are directly related to my current position and will enable me to contribute more effectively to our team. I would also be happy to share the knowledge gained from the course with my colleagues through a short presentation.

Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to your positive respons

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly described the 'Advanced Business Communication and Project Coordination' course, explained the support needed (financial and flexible hours), and articulated the benefits for your role. The tone is professional and appropriate for a workplace request. The ideas are well-developed and logically presented, meeting the requirements of the task effectively. The letter is cohesive and maintains a consistent focus throughout, demonstrating a clear understanding of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the request to the details of the course, the support required, and finally the benefits. Cohesive devices such as 'Since the sessions are scheduled', 'I believe this course', and 'These skills are' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is smooth, making the letter easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for a professional context, such as 'highly beneficial', 'international training institute', 'effective client management', and 'responsibilities'. The language is precise and natural. There is a minor error at the end where 'positive respons' is cut off, but this does not detract from the overall clarity of the message. The vocabulary is varied and used with good control, showing an ability to use professional terminology appropriately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The writing displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use complex sentences effectively, such as 'I would appreciate it if the company could support me by covering the course fee and allowing me flexible working hours'. Grammar is generally accurate throughout the text, with no significant errors that impede communication. Punctuation is used correctly to support the structure of your arguments. The sentence construction is varied and demonstrates a high level of control.

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

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