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. You are frequently bothered by noise from your upstairs neighbour's apartment.

Write a letter to your neighbour. In your letter
• describe the situation.
• explain why it is a problem for you.
• suggest a solution.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear _________,

Student answer (Band 8.5)

Dear Neighbour,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to let you know about a problem that I have been experiencing because of the noise coming from your apartment.

Over the past few weeks, I have often heard loud footsteps, furniture being moved, and music playing late at night. The noise usually continues until after midnight, especially on weekends. I recognize that everyone has different schedules however the level of noise has become quite disturbing.

This has been challenging for me due to my work as I work early in the morning and need uninterrupted night's sleep. Regrettably, the constant noise makes it arduous for me to fall asleep and concentrate during the day. As a result, I have been feeling exhausted and less productive at work.

I was wondering if you could keep the noise to a minimum during late evening hours, particularly after 10:00 p.m. If you are planning to have guests or move furniture, I would really appreciate it if you could do so earlier in the day. I am sure we can find a solution that works for both of us.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. I look forward to resolving this matter in a friendly way.

Yours sincerely,

Amanpreet Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The letter fully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly describe the noise situation (loud footsteps, furniture, music), explain the negative impact on your work and sleep, and propose a reasonable solution (limiting noise after 10:00 p.m.). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a neighbour—polite, firm, and constructive. The purpose of the letter is immediately clear, and the development of ideas is logical and consistent throughout the response. You have successfully met all the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is well-organised with a clear structure. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which aids readability. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Over the past few weeks', 'This has been challenging', and 'As a result', to link your ideas logically. The progression of the argument is smooth, moving from the problem to the impact and finally to the proposed solution. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different sections of the letter, making the overall flow very easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the context. Phrases like 'uninterrupted night's sleep', 'arduous', and 'productive at work' show a level of sophistication beyond basic communication. There is a good awareness of collocation, and the tone remains consistently formal and respectful. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the task well, incorporating a few more idiomatic expressions or slightly more precise collocations could elevate this to a higher band. Overall, the lexical range is sufficient and used with precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

Your grammar is strong, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinate clauses effectively, such as 'I recognize that everyone has different schedules however...' and 'If you are planning to have guests...'. Punctuation is generally accurate, though a comma is missing before 'however' in the second paragraph. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the few minor slips do not impede communication or cause any confusion for the reader. You show good control over verb tenses and sentence construction.

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