Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-04

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have decided to look for a new job.

Write a letter to a friend. In your letter
• explain why you are looking for a new job.
• describe the kind of job you would like to have.
• ask your friend to help you find a job

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear _________,

Student answer (Band 9.0)

Dear Jack,

I hope you're doing well. I wanted to let you know that I have decided to look for a new job. Although I have learned a great set of skills in my current role, there are very few opportunities for career growth. In addition, the work has become quite repetitive and I would love to take on more challenging responsibilities.

I am looking for a position in marketing, preferably with a company that values creativity and teamwork. Ideally, the job would involve working on brand campaigns, social media, or consumer research. I would also like a role where I can develop new skills and work with experienced professionals.

Since you work in this field and know many people in the industry, I was hoping you could help me. Please let me know if you hear about any suitable vacancies in your company or among your contacts. I would be very grateful if you could share my CV with anyone who may be hiring.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best wishes,

Nitya Jingar

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explain the reasons for leaving your current job, such as the lack of career growth and the repetitive nature of the work. You also provide a detailed description of your desired role in marketing, focusing on creativity and teamwork. Finally, you make a clear request for your friend's assistance in finding a vacancy. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and the ideas are well-developed and relevant to the task requirements. The response is cohesive and maintains a consistent focus throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving smoothly from the reason for writing to the job description and finally the request for help. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'Since you work in this field', and 'Ideally', which help to connect your thoughts naturally. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is easy to follow, ensuring that the reader can clearly understand the purpose of your communication without any confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the context of a job search. Phrases like 'career growth', 'challenging responsibilities', 'brand campaigns', and 'suitable vacancies' show a strong command of professional terminology. The language is natural and precise throughout the letter. While the vocabulary is not overly complex, it is perfectly appropriate for the task and conveys your message with clarity and ease. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the tone remains consistently professional yet friendly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The letter exhibits a high level of grammatical accuracy. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences such as 'Although I have learned a great set of skills in my current role, there are very few opportunities for career growth.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable errors in tense, subject-verb agreement, or word order. The writing is fluent and error-free, which allows the reader to focus entirely on the content of your message. The control over grammar is consistent and sophisticated.

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

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