Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-31
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 8.5)
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to share my feedback regarding how your company can best utilize its budget to support our local community.
Sponsoring the youth sports team for two years would have a profound, long-term impact on local children. It would provide them with proper equipment, professional coaching, and a structured environment that encourages fitness, teamwork, and healthy lifestyle habits. Furthermore, sustained financial backing over a two-year period ensures stability for the team and continuous community engagement.
On the other hand, funding two open-air concerts offers broad cultural appeal and immediate enjoyment for the entire community. Concerts bring residents of all ages together, fostering social unity and boosting local businesses during the event days. However, the benefits of these events are short-lived compared to a multi-year program.
In my opinion, funding the local children's sports team is the better choice. While concerts provide brief entertainment, supporting young athletes creates a lasting positive legacy, promotes youth development, and demonstrates your company’s long-term commitment to the health and well-being of the local community.
Yours faithfully,
[Your Name]
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5
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 tone is appropriate for a formal letter, and the position is consistent throughout the text. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the contrast between the 'long-term impact' of the sports program and the 'short-lived' nature of the concerts. This demonstrates a high level of task fulfillment.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5
The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each option, and a concluding recommendation. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'On the other hand', and 'However' is natural and effective, guiding the reader smoothly through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas, and the flow of information is logical and easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive usage of linking words.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.5
You demonstrate a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary. Phrases such as 'profound, long-term impact', 'sustained financial backing', 'fostering social unity', and 'lasting positive legacy' are used with precision and natural collocation. The vocabulary is varied and contributes significantly to the professional tone of the letter. There are no errors in word choice or spelling, and the language is used with a high degree of flexibility and control.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5
The writing exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with full flexibility and accuracy. You effectively use complex sentences, such as 'While concerts provide brief entertainment, supporting young athletes creates a lasting positive legacy', which are error-free. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical slips. The control over sentence structure is excellent, and the writing is entirely error-free, meeting the criteria for the highest band.
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