Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-18

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 9.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to express my concern about some inaccurate information published in a recent article about my town in your international travel magazine. As a resident of this town for several years, I would like to correct these errors and suggest how the situation could be resolved.

Firstly, the article stated that the town's main historical museum is closed on weekends and that there is no public transportation available from the city centre to the nearby lake. However, both pieces of information are incorrect. The museum is, in fact, open every day, including Saturdays and Sundays, and regular buses operate between the city centre and the lake throughout the day.

It is extremely important for a well-known international travel magazine such as yours to provide accurate information. Many tourists rely on your articles when planning their holidays and deciding which places to visit. Incorrect details may cause visitors to waste time and money or even discourage them from visiting attractions that they would otherwise enjoy. Furthermore, publishing inaccurate information could negatively affect the magazine's reputation.

I would therefore suggest that you publish a correction in your next edition and update the online version of the article as soon as possible. In addition, your editorial team should verify information with local authorities or reliable sources before publishing future travel articles.

I hope you will take this matter seriously and make the necessary corrections promptly.

Yours faithfully,

Kishan Vaghela

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You clearly identified the incorrect information regarding the museum and public transport, explained the importance of accuracy for tourists and the magazine's reputation, and provided constructive suggestions for resolution. The tone is consistently appropriate for a formal letter to an editor, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and logically extended, meeting all the requirements of the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph focuses on a single aspect of the prompt, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Firstly', 'However', 'Furthermore', and 'I would therefore suggest', which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the message. The use of referencing is precise, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the points being made.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and natural range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the formal context of the letter. Phrases such as 'express my concern', 'inaccurate information', 'rely on your articles', and 'verify information with local authorities' show a high level of control. The word choices are precise and contribute to a professional tone. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is sophisticated enough to convey your message with clarity and impact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You have successfully used complex sentences, such as 'Many tourists rely on your articles when planning their holidays and deciding which places to visit', and 'I would therefore suggest that you publish a correction in your next edition and update the online version of the article as soon as possible'. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical errors that impede communication. The control over tense and sentence structure is excellent.

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