Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-25

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 8.0)

# IELTS Task 1 — Cookery Course Feedback

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to share my feedback regarding the cookery course I recently completed at your school, as I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and found it extremely useful.

Firstly, I particularly enjoyed the practical cooking sessions, which gave us an opportunity to prepare a variety of dishes under the guidance of experienced instructors. In addition, the teachers were courteous and supportive, and they explained each technique clearly. As a result, I became much more confident in preparing meals independently.

Since completing the course, I have been cooking regularly at home, usually four or five times a week. I have prepared several dishes that I learned during the course and have also experimented with different ingredients. In fact, I recently cooked a three-course meal for my family, which they thoroughly enjoyed.

I would also like to suggest offering a course in international cuisine. It could teach participants how to prepare popular dishes from different countries and introduce them to a wider range of cooking techniques. I believe such a course would attract many people who are interested in exploring different food cultures.

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

Yours faithfully,

Navpreet Singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly described the enjoyable aspects of the course, such as the practical sessions and supportive instructors. You also provided a specific detail about your cooking frequency since the course, and offered a relevant suggestion for an international cuisine course. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a course director, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and the response is balanced, ensuring all requirements of the task are met effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific requirement of the task, which makes the structure easy to follow. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Firstly', 'In addition', 'As a result', and 'In fact', to link your sentences and paragraphs. The transition between the description of the course and your current cooking habits is smooth. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the message, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the context of a formal letter. Phrases like 'thoroughly enjoyed', 'under the guidance of', and 'experimented with different ingredients' show a natural and precise use of language. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the task well, it remains relatively standard. To reach the highest band, you could incorporate slightly more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations related to culinary arts or professional feedback. However, the current range is more than sufficient for the task and conveys your meaning clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The grammar is highly accurate throughout the letter. You have used a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of relative clauses ('which gave us an opportunity') and conditional-like structures ('I believe such a course would attract...'). There are no significant grammatical errors, and punctuation is used correctly to support the flow of your writing. The control over verb tenses, particularly the shift from past tense for the course experience to present perfect for your ongoing habits, is handled with precision. The writing is error-free and demonstrates a high level of grammatical control.

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