Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-08

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 9.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to inform you about a problem in my apartment that requires urgent attention.

The main issue is a serious leak in the bathroom ceiling. Over the past few days, water has been dripping from the ceiling, particularly when it rains. As a result, the ceiling has become damp and some of the paint has started to peel off. I am concerned that the problem could become worse and cause further damage to the apartment.

I would appreciate it if you could arrange for a qualified maintenance worker to inspect and repair the leak as soon as possible. In addition, I think the damaged part of the ceiling should be repaired after the source of the leak has been fixed.

Could you please visit my apartment at your earliest convenience to see the problem yourself? I would be happy to arrange a suitable time for your visit.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Dev

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The letter fully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly describe the bathroom ceiling leak, suggest a logical course of action (inspection followed by repair), and formally request a site visit. The tone is consistently appropriate for a formal letter to a building manager. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the correspondence is clear from the outset. You have successfully met all requirements of the task with a professional and structured approach.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the introduction of the problem to the description, the proposed solution, and finally the request for a visit. Cohesive devices such as 'As a result', 'In addition', and 'at your earliest convenience' are used naturally and effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall readability of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal complaint letter. Phrases like 'requires urgent attention', 'qualified maintenance worker', and 'at your earliest convenience' are precise and fit the context well. The language is natural and conveys the message without any ambiguity. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it is consistently appropriate for the task, showing a good level of control over formal register.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The grammar is highly accurate throughout the letter. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences such as 'I would appreciate it if you could arrange for a qualified maintenance worker to inspect and repair the leak as soon as possible.' Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no noticeable errors in tense or subject-verb agreement. The writing is fluent and error-free, reflecting a high level of grammatical control.

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

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