Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-07-31

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 8.0)

Dear Sir

I am writing this letter to give my feedback regarding the recent decision that your company has taken on whether your company should sponsor a local children's team for 2 years or pay for two open-air concerts.

Sponsoring a local children's team for two years can be a very good idea and can be a great initiative to encourage sports in the community. It can also boost motivation amongst children to take part in various sports competitions and improve their skills. Apart from that such initiative can also push children to play sports which can have a positive impact on the physical development of the children and it can also help in teaching the children important values like sportsmanship and teamwork.

On the other hand organizing for two open-air concerts has it's own perks. Concerts are a great place for people to connect with each other and develop community bonding. Concerts can also prove to be a great place for local vendors to display and sell their products and earn some extra income. It can also help your company gain popularity which can lead to the growth of the organization.

In conclusion I believe that it would be a better idea for your company to sponsor a local children's sports team for two years as it will have a long-lasting positive social impact on the community and will lead the youth of the community towards a better future.

Yours sincerely

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly describe the benefits of the sports team sponsorship, summarize the advantages of the concerts, and provide a definitive recommendation. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter, and your position is consistent throughout the text. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific, illustrative examples of how the company might benefit from the sports sponsorship, such as brand visibility or community goodwill, rather than focusing primarily on the children's development. Overall, the task is fully addressed with well-developed ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each option, and a concluding recommendation. You use transition signals such as 'Apart from that', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader through your arguments. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall flow. To improve, ensure that your cohesive devices are varied; for instance, you rely heavily on 'It can also' to start sentences in the second and third paragraphs. Using a wider variety of linking phrases would make the progression of ideas feel more sophisticated and less mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'initiative', 'community bonding', and 'long-lasting positive social impact'. The language is natural and conveys your meaning clearly. However, there is some repetition of basic verbs and phrases (e.g., 'can be a great...'). To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise collocations and less common lexical items. For example, instead of 'very good idea', you could use 'a highly commendable initiative' or 'a strategic investment'. Your spelling is accurate throughout the response, which is a positive aspect of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your writing shows a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your control of grammar is generally strong. There are a few minor punctuation errors, such as the missing comma after 'In conclusion' and the incorrect use of 'it's' (which should be the possessive 'its'). Additionally, some sentences could be more concise to improve impact. Despite these minor slips, your grammatical control is solid, and the meaning is never obscured. Focusing on consistent punctuation and avoiding minor possessive errors will help you move toward a higher band.

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