Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-23

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You recently did a short cookery course. The cookery school has asked for your feedback on this course. Write a letter to the course director at the cookery school. In your letter

• describe what you enjoyed about the course
• say how much cooking you've done since the course
• suggest another cookery course you’d like the school to offer

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 provide feedback on the short cookery course I recently attended at your school. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and found it both informative and enjoyable.

What I particularly appreciated was the practical nature of the lessons. The instructor explained each technique clearly and patiently, and we had plenty of opportunities to prepare dishes ourselves. I especially enjoyed learning how to make fresh pasta and a variety of sauces. The friendly atmosphere and small class size also made it easy to ask questions and learn from other participants.

Since completing the course, I have been cooking much more frequently at home. I now prepare meals from scratch three or four times a week and have already made several of the recipes we learned during the course. I have also become more confident in experimenting with different ingredients.

I would suggest that the school consider offering an advanced vegetarian cookery course. It would be particularly useful to learn how to prepare nutritious and creative vegetarian dishes using a wider range of international ingredients.

Thank you for providing such an enjoyable course. I look forward to attending another programme in the future.

Yours faithfully,

Prachi

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly described the aspects of the course you enjoyed, such as the practical nature of the lessons and the fresh pasta making. You also provided a clear account of your cooking habits since the course, noting that you cook from scratch three or four times a week. Finally, your suggestion for an advanced vegetarian course is relevant and well-developed. The tone is consistently appropriate for a formal letter to a course director, and the purpose of the communication is clear from the outset. All requirements of the task have been met effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, ensuring the reader can follow your thoughts easily. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'What I particularly appreciated', 'Since completing the course', and 'I would suggest', which help to link your ideas smoothly. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the feedback on the past experience and the future suggestion is natural. The overall structure is coherent and professional.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the context of a formal letter. Phrases such as 'practical nature of the lessons', 'prepare meals from scratch', and 'experimenting with different ingredients' show a natural and precise use of language. The vocabulary is varied and accurate throughout the text. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is sophisticated enough to convey your points clearly and effectively without being overly repetitive.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The response exhibits a high level of grammatical accuracy. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences, with full control. For example, 'The instructor explained each technique clearly and patiently, and we had plenty of opportunities to prepare dishes ourselves' is a well-constructed compound-complex sentence. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical errors. The control over verb tenses, such as the present perfect for your recent activities and the conditional for your suggestion, is excellent and appropriate for the task.

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

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