Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-03

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 9.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing in response to your request for public feedback regarding how your company should invest its community funding. I appreciate the opportunity to share my opinion on this important matter.

Sponsoring a local children's sports team would bring many long-term benefits to the community. Firstly, it would encourage children to participate in regular physical activity, helping them stay healthy and develop good habits from an early age. In addition, being part of a sports team teaches valuable life skills such as teamwork, discipline, responsibility, and perseverance. Financial support from your company could also provide better equipment, uniforms, and coaching, making sports more accessible to children from families with limited incomes.

On the other hand, paying for two open-air concerts would also have several advantages. Such events would bring people together, strengthen community spirit, and provide enjoyable entertainment for families and individuals of all ages. Furthermore, concerts could attract visitors from nearby areas, benefiting local businesses such as restaurants, cafés, and shops.

Although both options would positively impact the community, I believe sponsoring the children's sports team would be the better choice. The concerts would offer enjoyment for only a short period, whereas supporting young athletes would create lasting benefits for two years and contribute to the personal development and well-being of many children. This investment would have a more meaningful and enduring impact on the community.

Thank you for considering my opinion. I hope my suggestions will help you make the best decision.

Yours faithfully,

suzzane

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You have clearly described the benefits of the sports team sponsorship, summarized the advantages of the concerts, and provided a well-reasoned justification for your preference. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter, and the position is clear from the beginning to the end. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of life skills for the sports team and the economic impact on local businesses for the concerts. The response is balanced and demonstrates a strong understanding of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each option, and a concluding paragraph that states your preference. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'In addition', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore' is natural and effective, guiding the reader through your arguments without being mechanical. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, and the progression of ideas is smooth. The transition between the two options and your final recommendation is handled with sophistication, ensuring the reader follows your line of reasoning easily.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary throughout the letter. Phrases such as 'long-term benefits', 'valuable life skills', 'limited incomes', and 'enduring impact' are used accurately and in the correct context. The language is natural and sophisticated, showing a high level of control. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary is well-suited to the formal nature of the task. Your ability to use varied and precise language significantly enhances the quality of the communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You effectively use complex sentences, such as 'Although both options would positively impact the community, I believe sponsoring the children's sports team would be the better choice.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical errors that impede understanding. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and you demonstrate a strong command of tense and modal verbs. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of grammatical control.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.