Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-07-28

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 8.0)

Dear Editor,

I am writing to provide some clarification on what you published in one of your international travel magazines regarding my hometown.

The information regarding opening hours for the famous tourist spot, i.e., the Taj Mahal, was published incorrectly. As I checked online, operating hours are from 9 am to 6 pm every day. However, the timing and opening days were wrongly published in your article.

Most tourists plan their vacations during the holiday season, and an article published by your team that spreads false information will create a disturbance among tourists, which will further create a negative impact on our tourist spot, as they will have to wait for longer hours to get entry.

I would highly recommend that you publish another article in which you provide correct information, including timings and days of operation. Along with that, a short letter of apology should be published with the newest article so that it will reduce the negative impact on our town.

I hope the suggestions will be published as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully,

Arshdeep Singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points required by the task. You clearly identified the incorrect information regarding the Taj Mahal's opening hours, explained the potential negative consequences for tourists and the town, and provided a constructive suggestion for the magazine to rectify the error. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to an editor. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring the reader understands the gravity of the situation. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly on the 'why' behind the importance of accuracy, perhaps mentioning the reputation of the magazine itself.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which makes the letter easy to follow. You have used appropriate cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Most tourists', and 'Along with that' to link your sentences and paragraphs effectively. The structure is sound, and the transition between the identification of the error and the proposed solution is smooth. The paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the body of the complaint, and the conclusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message with precision. Phrases like 'provide some clarification', 'spreads false information', and 'reduce the negative impact' are well-chosen and appropriate for the formal context. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it remains somewhat standard. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to add nuance to your writing. For instance, instead of 'create a disturbance', you might use 'cause significant inconvenience' or 'lead to widespread frustration'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your grammar is generally accurate, and you have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is good. There are occasional minor slips, such as the phrasing 'create a disturbance among tourists', which is slightly unnatural; 'cause frustration for tourists' would be more idiomatic. However, these minor issues do not impede communication. You have demonstrated a good command of complex structures, such as the conditional-like construction in your final paragraph, which shows a solid grasp of English grammar.

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