Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-07-24

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have just read an article in an international travel magazine which contained some information about your town that is incorrect.

Write a letter to the editor of the magazine. In your letter

• correct the information in the article
• explain why it is important for the magazine to give correct information
• suggest what the magazine should do about this situation

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 8.5)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to point out some incorrect information in your recent article about my town. Although I appreciate your effort to introduce new travel destinations, a few facts need to be corrected.

The article mentioned that my town has very few tourist attractions and poor public transport. However, this is not true. We have several beautiful parks, a popular museum, and regular bus and train services that make travelling easy. It also stated that there are only a few restaurants, while in fact there are many cafes and restaurants serving different types of food.

It is important for your magazine to provide accurate information because many readers depend on it when planning their trips. Incorrect details can disappoint visitors and harm the reputation of our town.

I suggest that you publish a correction in your next issue and update the online article. This will help readers receive reliable information and maintain your magazine's credibility.

Yours faithfully,

John

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly identified the incorrect information regarding tourist attractions and public transport, explained the importance of accuracy for potential visitors and the town's reputation, and provided a logical suggestion for rectification. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to an editor, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, ensuring the reader understands the situation and the desired outcome without any ambiguity. You have successfully met all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, starting with the purpose of the letter, moving to the corrections, then the explanation, and finally the suggested action. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'It also stated', and 'This will help' are used effectively to link ideas and sentences. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is smooth throughout the text, making it easy for the reader to follow your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal letter. Phrases like 'point out', 'travel destinations', 'reliable information', and 'maintain your magazine's credibility' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it remains somewhat standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or precise collocations to add nuance to your writing. However, the current range is sufficient to convey your message clearly and professionally without any errors in word choice or spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The writing is highly accurate, with a variety of sentence structures used correctly. You successfully employ complex sentences, such as 'Although I appreciate your effort to introduce new travel destinations, a few facts need to be corrected,' which demonstrates good control over grammar. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable grammatical errors. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent, which is indicative of a high level of grammatical competence.

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