Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-27

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 public feedback regarding how your company should spend the allocated funds.

Sponsoring a local children’s sports team for two years would provide several long-term benefits. It would encourage young people to remain physically active, develop teamwork and discipline, and build stronger relationships within the community. It could also help talented children who may otherwise be unable to afford equipment or training.

On the other hand, funding two open-air concerts would provide entertainment for a much wider section of the community. Such events could bring residents together, support local musicians and businesses, and create a lively atmosphere in the area. They could also attract visitors and generate additional revenue for local shops and restaurants.

Personally, I believe the money should be spent on the children’s sports team. Unlike concerts, which would benefit residents for only a few days, sports sponsorship could have a lasting impact on children's health, confidence and development.

Thank you for considering my views.

Yours faithfully,

Mariam

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

Mariam fully addresses all parts of the task in a very natural and appropriate tone for a formal letter to a company. She successfully describes the benefits of sponsoring the sports team, such as encouraging physical activity and helping talented children who may otherwise be unable to afford equipment. Furthermore, she effectively summarises the benefits of the concerts by mentioning entertainment, community cohesion, and additional revenue for local businesses. Finally, her personal recommendation is clearly stated and well-supported, explaining why the sports sponsorship has a lasting impact compared to the short-term nature of concerts. All bullet points are fully covered with well-developed ideas, earning a Band 8.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

The letter exhibits a very clear logical organisation and progression from introduction to conclusion. Each paragraph has a distinct and well-managed focus, moving smoothly from public feedback requests to sports benefits, concert benefits, personal recommendations, and a polite sign-off. Cohesive devices are used naturally without being overly mechanical or intrusive. For instance, the transition 'On the other hand' effectively signals a shift in perspective between the two funding options. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately throughout the response. The referencing and logical flow are well-maintained, easily meeting the criteria for a Band 8.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 8.0

The student demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate to the topic. Expressions such as 'allocated funds', 'long-term benefits', 'community cohesion', and 'additional revenue' show a strong command of lexical items and collocations. Word choices are precise, and there are no noticeable inaccuracies or spelling mistakes. Although the vocabulary is well-suited to the task and effectively conveys the intended meaning without stumbling, it stops just short of the highly sophisticated, native-like idiom and uncommon lexical control required for a Band 9.0. Therefore, a solid Band 8.0 is awarded.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

Mariam displays an impressive command of grammatical structures, successfully integrating both simple and complex sentence forms. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, featuring well-controlled conditional and modal structures, such as 'who may otherwise be unable to afford' and 'which would benefit residents for only a few days'. Punctuation is accurate, and punctuation marks are handled with precision. The flow of complex clauses is smooth, demonstrating rare minor slips rather than systematic errors. This high level of structural variety and accuracy fully aligns with the descriptors for a Band 8.0.

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