Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-16

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You recently organised an all-day meeting for your company, which took place in a local hotel. In their feedback, participants at the meeting said that they liked the hotel, but they were unhappy about the food that was served for lunch.

Write a letter to the manager of the hotel. In your letter

• say what the participants liked about the hotel
• explain why they were unhappy about the food
• suggest what the manager should do to improve the food in future

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 to provide feedback about the meeting that our company recently held at your hotel. Overall, the participants were pleased with the hotel and its facilities.

They particularly appreciated the cleanliness of the meeting room, the comfortable seating and the helpful attitude of your staff. The hotel was also conveniently located, which made it easy for everyone to attend the meeting.

However, the participants were disappointed with the lunch that was served. The food was not very fresh, and there were limited vegetarian options. In addition, several dishes were too spicy and some participants found the meal quite cold by the time it was served.

I would suggest that you improve the quality and variety of the lunch menu in the future. It would be helpful to offer more vegetarian and healthy choices and ensure that the food is served at the appropriate temperature. You could also collect guests' dietary preferences in advance.

I hope you will consider this feedback and take appropriate steps to improve the dining experience for future guests.

Yours faithfully,

Jennifer

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly identify the positive aspects of the hotel (cleanliness, staff, location), explain the specific issues with the lunch (freshness, vegetarian options, spice levels, temperature), and provide constructive suggestions for improvement. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and logically presented, meeting all the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear structure. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, ensuring a logical progression of ideas. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'However', and 'Overall', which help the reader follow your argument without difficulty. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the positive feedback and the complaints is smooth. The flow of information is natural and professional throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal business letter. Phrases like 'conveniently located', 'dietary preferences', and 'appropriate steps' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it is generally standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate slightly more sophisticated or precise collocations to enhance the professional tone. However, the current range is sufficient to convey your message with precision, and there are no errors in word choice that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of sentence structures used correctly. You successfully employ complex sentences, such as 'The hotel was also conveniently located, which made it easy for everyone to attend the meeting.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no significant grammatical errors. The writing is fluent, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent. The majority of your sentences are error-free, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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