Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-06
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 4.0)
DEAR SIR, MADAM
I HOPE YOU ARE DOING WELL. I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU THAT A LARGE COMPANY HAS DECIDED TO SPEND A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR OUR AREA SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE AREA WANT YOU TO SPONSOR OUR SPORTS CHILDREN FOR THE SPORT SUCH THEY ARE VERY GOOD PLAYERS, WELL-TRAINED, AND WELL-PLAYED, AND MANY SPORTS ARE WINNING. SO IF YOU SPONSOR THESE STUDENTS, I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU BECAUSE THESE ARE OUR FUTURE CHILDREN FOR OUR COUNTRY.
I DO NOT TO KNOWN THE COMPANY SHOULD SPEND THE MONEY BUT I REQUEST YOU TO SPONSOR OUR CHILDREN.
I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR RESPONSE. I KNOW YOUR RESPONSE IS VERY GOOD FOR US.
THANKS AND REGARDS
ABC AREA SECERTRY
ABVV
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 2.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 3.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 2.5
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, coming in significantly short at 126 words. Regarding the task requirements, the writer only partially addresses the prompt. While there is a mention of sponsoring the sports team, the benefits of the sports team are extremely limited and repetitive, stating simply that they are 'very good players'. Furthermore, the second bullet point regarding the benefits of paying for the open-air concerts is completely omitted from the letter. Instead, the writer states 'I do not to known the company should spend the money', which demonstrates a failure to properly weigh and recommend how the company should spend the funds as required by the final bullet point. The tone and format attempt a letter, but the limited development and missing content restrict the score at this level.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5
The letter lacks a clear overall progression and logical organisation. The text is divided into very brief, abrupt paragraphs that do not effectively structure the arguments. Cohesive devices are largely absent or misused, leading to a choppy and disconnected reading experience. For instance, the transition between discussing the sports team and stating uncertainty about how the company should spend the money ('I do not to known the company should spend the money') lacks any logical connector or smooth progression. Paragraphing is inadequate, and the rigid, repetitive sentence starters make the structure mechanical. To improve, the writer needs to group related ideas into coherent paragraphs and use a wider range of appropriate cohesive links to guide the reader through the text.
Lexical Resource: Band 4.5
The vocabulary used is basic, repetitive, and limited in range. Throughout the response, the writer relies heavily on simple words and phrases such as 'large company', 'spend a large amount of money', and 'very good players', showing very little flexibility or precision. There are noticeable word choice and word form errors that hinder effective communication, such as 'well-played' used instead of a proper adjective, and the phrase 'sports children' which is unnatural and unidiomatic. Additionally, the spelling error 'SECERTRY' for 'Secretary' demonstrates weaknesses in word control. To reach a higher band, the writer must incorporate a wider variety of less common lexical items, improve collocations, and ensure greater accuracy in word forms and spelling.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5
The grammatical range is extremely limited, relying primarily on simple sentences with frequent structural errors. There are multiple issues with verb forms, tenses, and sentence construction, such as 'I do not to known the company should spend the money', which contains a major structural and verb form error. Punctuation is also poorly handled, with the entire response written in capital letters, which is inappropriate for formal letter writing. Errors in prepositions and clause structures are frequent and can cause difficulty for the reader in fully grasping the intended meaning. To improve, the writer needs to demonstrate a better control over basic sentence patterns and attempt complex structures with greater accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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