Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-07-31

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 an ongoing problem with the parking lot behind our apartment building. As a resident of this building, I often return home from work in the evening and find that there are no available parking spaces.

This situation is quite frustrating because I have to spend a considerable amount of time searching for a place to park my car. On several occasions, I have been forced to park on nearby streets, which are often far from the building. After a long day at work, this is both inconvenient and stressful. In addition, I am concerned about the safety of my vehicle when it is parked away from the apartment complex.

I would like to suggest that you consider introducing assigned parking spaces for residents. Alternatively, you could issue parking permits to residents and monitor the parking lot more closely to prevent unauthorized vehicles from using it. I believe these measures would help solve the problem and make parking more convenient for everyone.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,

Ayushi

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The letter fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly describe the parking situation, explain the negative impact on your daily routine, and provide two logical, actionable solutions for the landlord. The tone is consistently appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord, and the purpose of the communication 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 a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the first introduces the problem, the second explains the impact, and the third offers solutions. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'Alternatively', and 'This situation', which help the reader follow your argument smoothly. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for a formal letter. Phrases like 'ongoing problem', 'inconvenient and stressful', and 'unauthorized vehicles' show a solid command of language. The word choice is precise and natural throughout the response. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it stays within a standard range; incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations could elevate this further, but the current level is more than sufficient for a high 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 'As a resident of this building, I often return home... and find that there are no available parking spaces.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable errors that impede communication. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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