Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-04

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 Sir,

I am writing this to express disappointment with the article published about my town last Sunday in your international travel magazine. Unfortunately, several pieces of information are inaccurate which I am afraid give a false impression to the reader about my area.

The article stated that my town has changed the public transportation schedule and that the local museum is closed on weekends. In fact, there is no alteration to the schedule. The buses and trams are running on time without delays. Moreover, the dinosaur museum will remain open on weekends too. However, the opening hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. which is different from the original schedule.

It is crucial to provide correct information in the worldwide magazine because many people rely on it and plan their holidays accordingly. The misinformation can adversely affect the town's image and impact local businesses and the tourism industry. Additionally, publishing such incorrect information may damage your magazine's public reach.

I would appreciate it if you could publish a new article with correct information and update the edits as soon as possible on your website. I also recommend that the writer to verify information with the local authorities before publishing it in the future.

Looking forward to seeing the resolved issue promptly.

Yours faithfully.

Joey

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter effectively addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly corrected the misinformation regarding the transport schedule and the museum's weekend opening hours. You also provided a logical explanation for why accuracy is vital, noting the impact on tourism and local businesses, and offered a constructive suggestion for the magazine to publish a correction and verify information in the future. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to an editor, and the purpose is clear from the outset. All parts of the task are well-developed and relevant.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, and the transition between the correction of facts and the explanation of the consequences is smooth. You use cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Additionally', and 'In fact' effectively to link your ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure follows the conventions of a formal letter, making the text easy to follow throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal complaint. Phrases such as 'give a false impression', 'adversely affect', and 'local authorities' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and precise, it could be elevated further to reach the highest band by incorporating more sophisticated collocations or less common idiomatic expressions. However, the current range is more than sufficient to convey your message clearly and professionally without any errors in word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your grammar is generally strong, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are very few errors; for example, 'I recommend that the writer to verify' should be 'I recommend that the writer verify'. Additionally, 'Looking forward to seeing the resolved issue' is slightly awkward; 'Looking forward to seeing this issue resolved' would be more natural. Despite these minor slips, the majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and sentence construction is consistent.

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

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