Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-03

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

During a recent plane journey, you sat next to a businessman who owns a chain of restaurants. You talked to him and he suggested that you should contact him about a possible job in one of his restaurants.

Write a letter to this businessman. In your letter

• remind him when and where you met
• tell him what kind of job you are interested in
• say why you think you would be suitable for the job

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. ,

Student answer (Band 8.0)

Dear Mr Rakesh,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to inquire about any vacant positions available at your restaurant chain.

My name is Rahul, and we met on a flight while travelling from Ahmedabad to Bangalore on the 15th of March 2025. I sat beside you in seat number 5A.

Since you mentioned that you own multiple restaurants in Ahmedabad, there have been frequent positions available for chefs. I would like to apply for the job of chef, as I am looking for a full-time position and want to pursue my career in culinary arts.

I have recently completed my post-graduation degree in culinary arts from a renowned university in Ahmedabad. Not only that, but one year of internship at the Marriott Hotel as a junior chef would be an excellent asset, which makes me a perfect candidate for the job.

I hope you will consider my application and look forward to arranging an interview with me. I can be reached at [redacted email].

Yours faithfully,

Masum Baby

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly identified the context of the meeting (flight from Ahmedabad to Bangalore, seat 5A), specified the desired role (chef), and provided relevant justification for your suitability (post-graduation degree and internship experience). The tone is appropriate for a formal business letter, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and directly relevant to the task requirements, demonstrating a professional approach to the request.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the introduction to the meeting details, the job application, and finally the call to action. Cohesive devices such as 'Not only that, but...' and 'Since you mentioned...' are used effectively to link ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is smooth, making the letter easy to follow. The use of standard formal letter conventions, such as the opening and closing, is correct.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have used a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a professional context, such as 'inquire', 'vacant positions', 'culinary arts', and 'excellent asset'. The word choice is precise and conveys your meaning clearly. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it could be slightly more sophisticated to reach the highest band. However, there are no errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication, and the language used is well-suited to the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The letter demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the conditional-like structure in '...which makes me a perfect candidate for the job.' Punctuation is generally accurate, and there are no significant grammatical errors that distract the reader. The sentence construction is varied and controlled, showing a high level of accuracy throughout the text.

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

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