Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-06

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 this letter to share the feedback of a recently arranged all-day conference of our firm at your hotel. It was held on last Friday of the previous month, where approximately 150 employees gathered in your banquet hall. All the employees liked the seating, ambience, and high-speed internet facilities provided. Moreover, they appreciated the friendly and professional approach of the staff.

However, I would like to address the disappointment of my colleagues regarding the food served. Some of the participants quoted that the soup wasn't served hot, while others complained about limited cutlery available during the lunch. Additionally, the Italian pasta wasn't cooked properly, and the cheese within it was raw.

I would suggest that using fresh ingredients, maintaining optimum temperature, and rechecking the number of bowls and plates before serving the lunch can improve the food service in the future. Overall, we had a pleasant experience during our time at the hotel. Thank you.

Warm regards,

Sagar Sharma

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly identified the positive aspects of the hotel, explained the specific issues regarding the food, and provided actionable suggestions for improvement. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, ensuring the reader understands the context and the specific complaints. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly on the impact of these issues on your event to further demonstrate the severity of the situation, but overall, the task requirements are fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs addressing specific points, and a polite closing. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the positive feedback from the complaints and suggestions. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'However', and 'Additionally' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the text. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, and the overall structure supports the purpose of the letter well.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for a formal business context, such as 'banquet hall', 'ambience', 'optimum temperature', and 'professional approach'. The word choice is generally precise and natural. There are no significant spelling or collocation errors that impede communication. While the vocabulary is effective, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions related to business feedback could elevate the response further. Overall, the lexical range is sufficient to convey your message with clarity and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use passive voice effectively, for example, 'the soup wasn't served hot' and 'the Italian pasta wasn't cooked properly'. Grammar is generally accurate, with only minor slips such as 'on last Friday' (should be 'on the last Friday' or simply 'last Friday'). Punctuation is used correctly throughout. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over complex structures is consistent, which is indicative of 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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