Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-17

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 or Madam,

I am writing to express my opinion on how your company should use the money allocated for supporting the local community.

Sponsoring a children’s sports team for two years would provide lasting benefits. It would encourage youngsters to remain physically active, develop teamwork and discipline, and improve their confidence. Furthermore, funding could cover essential equipment, uniforms and coaching fees, allowing children from less affluent families to participate.

Alternatively, paying for two open-air concerts would offer entertainment to a much wider audience. Such events could bring residents together, create a stronger sense of community and provide local musicians with opportunities to showcase their talent. In addition, increased visitors could benefit nearby businesses.

Nevertheless, I strongly recommend sponsoring the sports team. While concerts would provide enjoyable short-term experiences, supporting children’s sport would have a more meaningful and long-lasting impact on their health, personal development and social skills.

Thank you for considering my views.

Yours faithfully,

Prachi

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. You have clearly described the benefits of the sports team, summarized the benefits of the concerts, and provided a clear, well-reasoned recommendation. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter, and the position is maintained consistently throughout. The ideas are well-developed, particularly in the second and third paragraphs, where you provide specific examples of how the funding would be utilized and the broader impact on the community. The response is balanced and directly answers the prompt's requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, and the transition between the two options and your final recommendation is smooth. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Furthermore', 'Alternatively', and 'Nevertheless', to guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure follows a standard formal letter format, which enhances the clarity of your message.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have used a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal letter. Phrases such as 'lasting benefits', 'less affluent families', and 'meaningful and long-lasting impact' demonstrate a good level of precision. The word choice is natural and fits the context well. While the vocabulary is accurate and effective, it stays within a standard range; incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common collocations could elevate this to a higher band, but the current usage is precise and error-free.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The grammar is highly accurate throughout the response. You have successfully used a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses (e.g., 'While concerts would provide enjoyable short-term experiences, supporting children’s sport would have...'). Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no noticeable errors in tense, agreement, or word order. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of control over grammatical structures, making the text very easy to read and professional in tone.

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

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