Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-23

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 Smith,

I am writing to inquire about a job opportunity in one of your restaurants, which you mentioned when we met recently during a plane journey.

We recently shared a flight from Delhi to Toronto by Air Canada last Saturday, during which I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about your inspiring business journey. I am grateful for your generous offer to consider me for a position within your chain of restaurants.

I am keen to work in the hospitality sector which involves day-to-day customer interaction and high standards of food preparation. I am interested in a junior management position which will provide me with the opportunity to not only show my management skills but also to prove my leadership qualities.

While I was studying hospitality at the university, I worked in McDonald's serving both at the front desk taking orders and assisting kitchen members in food preparation. I believe my relevant education and extensive hands-on experience in customer service and food preparation would prove to be an asset for a management position in your restaurant.

I hope you will find me suitable for this position in your restaurant, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Rashpal Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly identify the context of the meeting (flight from Delhi to Toronto), specify the desired role (junior management), and provide a logical justification for your suitability by linking your academic background and previous work experience at McDonald's to the requirements of the role. The tone is consistently professional and appropriate for a formal business letter. The purpose of the letter is clear from the outset, and the ideas are well-developed and relevant to the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving smoothly from the introduction to the specific details of the request and your qualifications. Cohesive devices such as 'While I was studying', 'not only... but also', and 'in addition to' are used effectively to link ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is natural, making the letter easy to follow. There is a clear sense of progression throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal business context. Phrases like 'inquire about a job opportunity', 'hospitality sector', and 'hands-on experience' are used accurately. You avoid repetition and maintain a professional register throughout. While the vocabulary is sufficient and precise, there is room to incorporate more sophisticated or idiomatic business collocations to reach the highest band. Overall, the language is natural and effectively conveys your message without any errors in word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The letter displays a good command of grammatical structures. You successfully use a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the conditional-like structure in the final paragraph and the subordinate clauses in the second paragraph. Punctuation is accurate, and there are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, showing good control over tense usage and sentence construction. The writing is clear, fluent, and demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence.

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

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