Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-30

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 in response to your request for feedback regarding how the company should spend the available funds. In my opinion, sponsoring the local children's sports team would provide greater long-term benefits to the community.

Supporting the team for two years would encourage children to participate in regular physical activity and develop important skills such as teamwork, discipline and cooperation. It would also provide the young players with better equipment and facilities, which could improve their sporting abilities and confidence.

On the other hand, funding two open-air concerts would give local residents an opportunity to enjoy entertainment and spend time together. Such events could bring the community closer, attract visitors to the area and provide local businesses with increased customers. However, these benefits would be relatively short-lived compared with those of supporting children over a two-year period.

I therefore strongly recommend that the company sponsor the children's sports team. This investment would promote healthier lifestyles among young people and create lasting benefits for the local community.

Thank you for considering my suggestion.

Yours faithfully,

Reezul

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You have clearly described the benefits of the sports team, summarized the advantages of the concerts, and provided a firm recommendation. The position is consistent and well-supported throughout the letter. The ideas are relevant and developed with sufficient detail, such as mentioning 'teamwork, discipline and cooperation' for the sports team and 'attract visitors' for the concerts. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a company, and the purpose of the communication is clear from the opening paragraph. You have successfully met all the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each option, and a concluding recommendation. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate distinct ideas. You have employed a range of cohesive devices, such as 'On the other hand', 'However', and 'I therefore', which help the reader follow the flow of your argument. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the benefits of one option to the other, and finally to your personal recommendation. The use of referencing is accurate, and the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal letter. Phrases such as 'long-term benefits', 'regular physical activity', and 'lasting benefits' are used accurately. The vocabulary is natural and precise, fitting the context of a public feedback request. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it could be elevated further by incorporating slightly more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to reach the highest band. However, the current range is sufficient to convey your meaning with precision and style, and there are no errors in word choice or spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response exhibits a high level of grammatical accuracy. You have used a variety of complex sentence structures, such as conditional clauses ('which could improve...') and participial phrases, with consistent control. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is handled correctly throughout. There is a good mix of simple and complex forms that enhance the readability of the letter. The grammar is sophisticated enough to support your arguments effectively, and there are no noticeable errors that impede communication or distract the reader.

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