Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-07-29

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You live in a small apartment building with a parking lot in back, and you often cannot find an empty parking space when you get home from work.

Write a letter to your landlord. In your letter
• describe the situation.
• explain why it bothers you.
• suggest something the landlord could do to solve the problem.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ____

Student answer (Band 8.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to inform you about a parking problem at our apartment building. I live in Apartment 12, and I often return home from work around 6:30 p.m. By that time, all the parking spaces are already occupied, so I have to park my car on a nearby street.

This situation is becoming very frustrating because I have to walk a long distance to my apartment, especially when carrying groceries or arriving home late at night. In addition, street parking is not always safe, and I worry about the security of my vehicle.

I would like to suggest that you assign one parking space to each apartment or issue parking permits so that only residents can use the parking lot. This would prevent unauthorized vehicles from taking up the available spaces and make parking much more convenient for everyone.

I hope you will consider this matter and take action soon. Thank you for your time and attention.

Yours faithfully,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The letter fully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly describe the situation regarding the lack of parking spaces, explain the negative impact on your daily life (carrying groceries, safety concerns), and provide a logical, actionable suggestion for the landlord. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, meeting all the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the task. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the problem to the consequences and finally to the proposed solution. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition' and 'This would prevent', to link your sentences and paragraphs. The structure is clear, and the use of paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, making the text easy to follow throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the context. Phrases like 'already occupied', 'unauthorized vehicles', and 'take action' are used accurately. The language is natural and precise, allowing you to convey your message without any ambiguity. While the vocabulary is functional and fits the task well, incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common collocations could elevate the response further, but the current range is sufficient for a high band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

Your grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of sentence structures used correctly. You successfully employ complex sentences, such as 'This situation is becoming very frustrating because I have to walk a long distance...', which demonstrates good control. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The writing is fluent, and the majority of sentences are error-free, reflecting a strong command of English grammar.

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