Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-11

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have seen an advertisement from a couple, who live in Australia, for someone to teach their two children your language for a year. Write a letter to the couple. In your letter

• explain why you think you would be suitable for the job
• say what else you could do for the family
• give your reasons for wanting the job

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear .................. ,

Student answer (Band 8.5)

Dear Mr and Mrs Smith,

I am writing in response to your advertisement for someone to teach your two children my native language for a year. I would be very interested in this opportunity and believe I would be well suited to the position.

I am a native speaker of the language and have a strong interest in teaching children. I am patient, responsible and able to explain things in a simple and engaging way. I could organise lessons according to your children's ages and abilities, using conversations, stories, games and everyday activities to help them develop their speaking, reading and writing skills.

In addition to teaching the language, I would be happy to help your family with other activities. For example, I could prepare simple traditional meals, introduce your children to aspects of my culture and accompany them to local activities when required. I would also be willing to help them with their schoolwork and practise English with them if they are interested.

I am particularly interested in this position because I would like to experience living with an Australian family and learn more about Australian culture and everyday life. At the same time, I would enjoy sharing my own language and cultural background with your children. I believe this would be a rewarding experience for both your family and me.

I would be grateful if you could provide me with further information about the position, including the working hours and accommodation arrangements. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Aradhna

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explain your suitability by highlighting your patience and teaching methods, offer additional help such as meal preparation and schoolwork assistance, and provide a clear, personal motivation for wanting the job. The tone is consistently appropriate for a formal letter to a potential employer. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have successfully covered all requirements of the task in a professional and engaging manner.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, moving smoothly from your suitability to additional contributions and finally your motivations. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition to', 'For example', and 'At the same time', which help to link your sentences and paragraphs naturally. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the message. The letter flows well from the opening salutation to the closing sign-off.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and natural range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the context of a job application. Phrases such as 'well suited to the position', 'engaging way', 'cultural background', and 'accommodation arrangements' show a good command of language. The vocabulary is precise and used accurately throughout the text. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is sophisticated enough to convey your points clearly and professionally. The lexical range is more than sufficient for this task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The letter displays a high level of grammatical control. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences, with high accuracy. For instance, 'I would be grateful if you could provide me with further information...' is a well-constructed complex sentence. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no grammatical errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the overall control of tense and agreement is excellent. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a strong grasp of English grammar.

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

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