Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-07-27

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

A family member is coming to stay with you. He/she will be arriving by train in the morning, but you won’t be home until the evening.

• explain arrangements you have made for them to have keys and get into the house

• tell your relative how to get from the train station to your house

• say when you will be home and suggest what you could do together that evening

Student answer (Band 8.5)

Dear Rajesh,

I'm writing to let you know that I won't be at home until the evening.

I hope you're doing well. I'm delighted that you'll be staying at my place during your holidays. Unfortunately, I have to attend an important meeting, so I won't be home until around 7 p.m. However, there's no need to worry because I've already informed my neighbours about your arrival, and you can collect the house keys from them.

To reach my house, walk to the exit gate from Terminal 2 of the railway station. From there, book a taxi and give the driver the address I've already shared with you. The driver will drop you right in front of my house.

I'll be back by 7 p.m., and I've already planned a wonderful evening for us. We'll have dinner at a popular Italian restaurant and then try the town's most famous ice cream. After that, we can spend some quality time catching up on everything that's happened in our lives.

I can't wait to see you.

Best wishes,

Meet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained the key arrangement with the neighbours, provided specific instructions for the taxi from the station, and suggested a concrete plan for the evening. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a family member, maintaining a friendly and helpful register throughout. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have successfully covered all requirements of the task in a natural and logical manner.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific requirement of the prompt, which makes the information easy to follow. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'However', 'To reach my house', and 'After that', to link your sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is appropriate for a personal letter, and the flow of information is smooth throughout the text. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message with precision. Phrases like 'delighted that you'll be staying', 'informed my neighbours', and 'catching up on everything' are natural and appropriate for the context. The word choice is accurate, and there are no spelling errors. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it could be slightly more varied to reach the highest band, but it is certainly more than adequate for this task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The grammar is highly accurate throughout the response. You have used a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the conditional 'if' implied in your instructions and the use of future tenses to describe the evening plans. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no grammatical errors that impede communication. The control over sentence structure is strong, and the writing is fluent and error-free, demonstrating a high level of grammatical competence.

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