Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-07-25

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

A large company in your area has decided to spend a certain amount of money, either to sponsor a local children's sports team for two years, or to pay for two open-air concerts. It has asked for feedback from the general public.

Write a letter to the company. In your letter

• describe the benefits of sponsoring the sports team
• summarise the benefits of paying for the concerts
• say how you think the company should spend the money

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 8.5)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing in response to your request for feedback regarding how your company should invest in our local community. I would strongly recommend to sponsoring a local children's sports team for the next two years rather than funding two open-air concerts.

There are several reasons for my opinion. First of all, supporting a children's sports team would have long-term benefits. It would encourage young people to stay physically active, learn teamwork, and develop self-confidence. In addition, many families struggle to afford sports equipment and coaching fees, so your sponsorship would enable more children to participate.

Furthermore, a two-year commitment would provide stability for the team and allow young athletes to improve their skills through regular training and competitions. This investment would leave a lasting positive impact on both the children and the wider community.

Although open-air concerts can be enjoyable and bring people together, they are only short-term events. Once the concerts are over, there is little continuing benefit for local residents. In contrast, investing in children's sports would support healthy lifestyles and help develop future generations.

I appreciate the opportunity to share my views and hope you will consider sponsoring the local children's sports team. I believe this would be the most valuable use of your company's investment.

Yours faithfully,

Prarthana Patil

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. You have clearly described the benefits of the sports team sponsorship, summarised the benefits of the concerts, and provided a clear recommendation. The position is consistent throughout the letter. The ideas are well-developed and supported with logical reasoning, such as mentioning the financial barriers for families and the long-term stability provided by a two-year commitment. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter, and the structure follows the requirements of the prompt effectively. No parts of the task were omitted, and the content is relevant and focused.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is logically organised with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is smooth. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'Furthermore', and 'In contrast', which help to link your arguments naturally. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the referencing is clear throughout the text. The flow of information is easy to follow, and the overall structure is professional and coherent, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the context of a formal letter. Phrases such as 'long-term benefits', 'lasting positive impact', and 'wider community' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is sufficient and precise, it could be elevated further to reach the highest band by incorporating more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items. However, the current usage is natural and there are no errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication. The language used is consistently formal and fits the task requirements well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response shows a good command of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the conditional structure 'If... would...' and various subordinate clauses. The grammar is generally accurate, with only a minor error in the first paragraph ('recommend to sponsoring' should be 'recommend sponsoring'). Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and the sentence construction is varied. The majority of the sentences are error-free, and the minor slip does not affect the clarity or professional tone of the letter.

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