Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-28

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)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to give you some feedback on the short cookery course I recently attended at your school. Overall, I found the course enjoyable and very useful.

What I particularly enjoyed was learning how to prepare different dishes under the guidance of an experienced chef. The practical lessons were interesting, and I especially liked working with other students because we could share ideas and learn from each other. The friendly atmosphere also made the course more enjoyable.

Since completing the course, I have cooked at home almost every day. I have prepared several of the dishes we learned, and my family has been very pleased with the results. I now feel much more confident in the kitchen.

I would be interested in taking another course in international cuisine, especially one focusing on Italian and Asian dishes. I believe this would help me develop my skills further.

Yours faithfully,

Keith

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly described what you enjoyed (the practical lessons and the social atmosphere), stated how much you have cooked since the course (almost every day), and provided a relevant suggestion for a future course (international cuisine). The tone is appropriate for a letter to a course director, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the context of providing feedback on a cookery course.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which makes the letter easy to follow. You have used appropriate paragraphing and cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'What I particularly enjoyed', 'Since completing the course', and 'I would be interested in'. The flow between sentences is natural, and the referencing is clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly and naturally. Phrases like 'under the guidance of an experienced chef', 'friendly atmosphere', and 'develop my skills further' are well-chosen and appropriate for the context. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it is generally standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more precise or sophisticated collocations related to cooking or learning experiences.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The writing is highly accurate with no noticeable grammatical errors. You have demonstrated a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses in 'What I particularly enjoyed was learning...' and 'I would be interested in taking another course...'. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and the control over verb tenses is consistent and appropriate for the narrative of the letter.

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

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