Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-06

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 Sarah,

I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to let you know that I’ve decided to look for a new job, as I’m not very satisfied with my current position. Although my colleagues are friendly, the work has become repetitive, and there are very few opportunities for career growth. I feel that it is time for me to take on a new challenge.

Ideally, I’d like to find a job in marketing, preferably with a well-established company. I’m particularly interested in a position that involves working with customers and managing social media campaigns. I’d also prefer a full-time job with flexible working hours and opportunities for professional development.

Since you have worked in this field for several years, I was wondering if you could help me with my job search. If you hear about any suitable vacancies in your company or through your professional contacts, I would really appreciate it if you could let me know. I’d also be grateful if you could take a look at my CV and give me some advice.

Please let me know if you hear of anything suitable. I hope we can catch up soon!

Best wishes,

Kam

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 repetitive nature of the work. You also provide a specific description of the desired role in marketing, including social media management and flexible hours. Finally, you make a clear request for your friend's assistance regarding job leads and CV feedback. The tone is consistently appropriate for a letter to a friend, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. All requirements of the task have been met effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, moving smoothly from the reason for leaving to the desired job type, and finally to the request for help. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Although', 'Ideally', 'Since', and 'If you hear about', which help to link your sentences and ideas naturally. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is coherent, making the letter very easy to follow.

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', 'well-established company', 'professional development', and 'suitable vacancies' are used accurately and naturally. The language is precise and appropriate for the semi-formal/friendly tone required. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary used is sufficient to convey your message with clarity and ease.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The letter displays a high level of grammatical accuracy. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses (e.g., 'Although my colleagues are friendly, the work has become repetitive'). Your control over verb tenses is excellent, and punctuation is used correctly throughout. There are no grammatical errors, and the writing flows smoothly. The range of structures is sufficient to meet the requirements of the task with a high degree of flexibility and precision.

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

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