Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-31

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 provide feedback on the short cookery course I recently attended at your school. Overall, I found it both enjoyable and highly beneficial.

What I enjoyed most was the practical nature of the lessons. Instead of simply watching demonstrations, we had plenty of opportunities to prepare dishes ourselves under the guidance of experienced instructors. I particularly appreciated learning new cooking techniques and receiving useful advice on seasoning and presentation. The friendly atmosphere also made the classes enjoyable.

Since completing the course, I have been cooking much more frequently. I now prepare meals from scratch around four times a week, whereas previously I often relied on ready-made food. I have also successfully tried several recipes from the course at home.

I would suggest offering an advanced baking and pastry course. Learning to make items such as croissants, éclairs and decorated cakes would be particularly appealing.

Thank you for providing such an excellent learning experience.

Yours faithfully,

Suman

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly describe the practical nature of the lessons, explain your increased cooking frequency since the course, and provide a specific, relevant suggestion for an advanced baking course. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a course director, and the purpose of the communication is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, demonstrating a strong understanding of the task requirements. No parts of the prompt were omitted, and the letter maintains a consistent focus throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your points easily. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Instead of', 'Since completing the course', and 'whereas', to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the feedback on the course and the suggestion for future classes is smooth. The overall structure is coherent and professional, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the context of a cookery course. Phrases such as 'practical nature', 'prepare meals from scratch', and 'experienced instructors' are used accurately and naturally. The vocabulary is precise and contributes to the clarity of your message. While the range is sufficient and effective, incorporating a few more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations could elevate the response further. However, the current usage is error-free and fits the formal tone of the letter perfectly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The grammar is highly accurate throughout the letter. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences, with confidence. For example, the use of the subordinate clause 'Instead of simply watching demonstrations, we had...' and the contrastive structure 'whereas previously I often relied on...' demonstrates good control. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no noticeable errors in tense or subject-verb agreement. The writing is fluent and error-free, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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