Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-07-28

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have a problem in your apartment that needs repairs.

Write a letter to the building manager. In your letter
• describe the problem.
• say what you think should be done about it.
• ask the building manager to visit your apartment to see the problem.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear _________,

Student answer (Band 8.5)

Dear Building Manager,

I am writing to inform you about a serious problem in my apartment. For the past two weeks, there has been a continuous water leak from the ceiling in my living room. The situation has become worse after the recent rainfall, and the damp ceiling has started to damage the paint and furniture. I am also worried that it may cause electrical problems if it is not repaired soon.

I believe the leak is coming from the apartment above or from a damaged pipe in the building. I would appreciate it if you could arrange for a maintenance team to inspect and repair the problem as soon as possible. Prompt action would prevent further damage to my apartment and ensure the safety of the residents.

Could you please visit my apartment personally to see the condition? I am available after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays or at any time during the weekend. I believe your visit will help you understand the seriousness of the issue and allow the necessary repairs to begin without delay.

Thank you for your attention. I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours faithfully,

Om Patel

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 water leak, suggest that a maintenance team should inspect the issue, and provide specific availability for a site visit. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a building manager, and the purpose of the communication is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and logically presented, meeting all requirements of the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use cohesive devices such as 'For the past two weeks', 'I believe', and 'In addition' (implied through structure) effectively to link ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between describing the problem and requesting action is smooth. The overall structure is coherent and professional.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal complaint. Phrases like 'continuous water leak', 'prompt action', and 'without delay' are used accurately and naturally. While the vocabulary is sufficient and precise, it stays within a standard range. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate slightly more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions related to property management or formal correspondence, though your current usage is entirely error-free and effective for the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

Your grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of complex sentence structures used correctly. For example, 'I am also worried that it may cause electrical problems if it is not repaired soon' shows good control over conditional structures. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable errors in tense or subject-verb agreement. The writing is fluent, and the majority of sentences are error-free, which reflects a high level of grammatical control.

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