Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-22

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 provide feedback that your company has asked for regarding whether to sponsor a local children's sports team for two years or to fund two open-air concerts.

On the one hand, the benefits of sponsoring a sports team are significant. It will encourage young sports aspirants to participate which will improve their physical health. Moreover, it will provide necessary sports supplies or equipment to the team and also assist in improving training and upgrading old facilities in the local sports club.

On the other hand, funding two music concerts would benefit residents by providing them with a cathartic outlet to destress. It will also help residents to make stronger social connections by spending quality time together while enjoying pleasant music in an outdoor environment.

In my view, although recreational activities are crucial in life, encouraging children to play sports is equally important. Therefore, your company could do one initiative each year, for instance, sponsor a local sports team in the first year and pay for a music concert in the second year.

Thank you for your generous support, and I hope you will find my feedback valuable.

Kind regards,

Rashpal Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly describe the benefits of the sports team sponsorship, such as improved physical health and better facilities, and the benefits of the concerts, such as stress relief and social connection. Your position on how the money should be spent is clearly stated and well-supported by a logical compromise. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter, and the purpose is clear from the outset. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly more on the long-term impact of these initiatives to provide even greater depth to your arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each option, and a concluding recommendation. The use of cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Moreover', and 'In my view' creates a logical flow between ideas. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate distinct points. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the relationship between the arguments is easy to follow. The letter maintains a consistent focus throughout, and the transition from the analysis of options to your final recommendation is handled naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using terms like 'aspirants', 'cathartic outlet', and 'recreational activities' appropriately. The language is natural and precise, fitting the formal context of the letter. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation. To move toward a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations to further enhance the fluency and precision of your writing, though the current range is already quite sufficient for the task requirements.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Your grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. For example, the use of conditional structures and relative clauses is handled well. Punctuation is used correctly throughout the letter. The sentences are clear and easy to read, and there are no errors that impede communication. To achieve a higher score, ensure you continue to vary your sentence structures even further, perhaps by using more advanced passive constructions or inverted structures where appropriate.

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

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