Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-18

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 about how your company should spend the money available for community sponsorship.

Sponsoring a local children's sports team for two years would have several important benefits. It would encourage children to be physically active, develop teamwork and discipline, and give them a positive way to spend their free time. In addition, supporting young people in the local community could create a strong and positive image for the company.

On the other hand, paying for two open-air concerts would also benefit the community. The concerts could provide entertainment for people of different ages and bring residents together. They could also attract visitors to the area and support nearby businesses such as restaurants and shops.

Despite these advantages, I believe the company should sponsor the children's sports team. Unlike concerts, which are temporary events, a two-year sponsorship would provide lasting benefits to local children and demonstrate the company's long-term commitment to the community.

Thank you for considering my opinion

Yours faithfully

Kamaljeet Kaur

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 sponsorship, summarized the benefits of the concerts, and provided a clear, well-reasoned recommendation. The ideas are well-developed and supported with logical arguments, such as the contrast between the temporary nature of concerts and the long-term impact of sports sponsorship. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter, and the position is consistent throughout the text. You have successfully met all requirements of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two options is smooth, using cohesive devices like 'In addition' and 'On the other hand' effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is easy to follow. The use of referencing is clear, and the flow of information is natural throughout the response. The letter is cohesive and demonstrates a high level of control over the structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas with precision. Phrases such as 'long-term commitment', 'physically active', and 'lasting benefits' are used accurately and appropriately in context. The vocabulary is natural and fits the formal tone of the letter well. While the range is not exceptionally wide, it is more than adequate for the task and demonstrates a good command of word choice and collocation. There are no noticeable errors in spelling or word usage.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional-like structures ('Unlike concerts, which are...') and compound-complex sentences. The grammar is highly accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly, and the control over verb tenses and subject-verb agreement is consistent. The writing is clear and flows well, with no grammatical slips that impede communication. The level of accuracy is very high.

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