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 response fully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You clearly describe the parking situation, explain the negative impact on your daily life, and provide two logical, actionable solutions. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant details, such as the inconvenience of parking on distant streets and concerns regarding vehicle safety. You have successfully met all the requirements of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which makes the letter easy to follow. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'Alternatively', and 'On several occasions', to link your sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is coherent. The flow of information is smooth, and the transition between describing the problem and suggesting solutions is handled well.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the context of a formal complaint. Phrases like 'ongoing problem', 'considerable amount of time', 'inconvenient and stressful', and 'unauthorized vehicles' show a level of precision and flexibility. The word choice is natural and fits the formal tone required for this task. There are no noticeable errors in spelling or word choice, and the vocabulary used is sufficient to convey your message clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The letter displays a high level of grammatical accuracy. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences, with confidence. For example, 'As a resident of this building, I often return home...' and 'I am concerned about the safety of my vehicle when it is parked away from the apartment complex' are grammatically sound. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, reflecting a strong command of English grammar.

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