Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-01

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 8.0)

Dear Jon,

I hope you are doing well! I am writing to inform you that I would not be able to pick up from the station and I will get home in the evening.

Once you reach the city, take the exit no 2 which will lead you to the bus station. Look for bay no 5 and the bus no 640 to Ladner Exchange. The buses run every 15 minutes and the commute time is about 10 minutes. After getting on the bus, get off at Brooke road and you will be dropped in front of the house.

The house no is 8853 and the keys to the main door is under the flowering pot beside the pillar. Once you enter the house you will find the breakfast on the dinning table and snacks in the pantry. Moreover, you can watch Netflix on the TV in the living room and the remotes are on the coffee table.

I will get home by 6'o clock and I have already made a reservation at a local restaurant for dinner which is at 8pm. After dinner, I plan to show you around the downtown area which is lively at night. Moreover, we will go for a walk by the White Rock Beach. See you in the evening!

Yours lovingly,

Harman

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

You have fully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained the key arrangements, provided specific and easy-to-follow directions from the train station, and outlined your evening plans. 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 met all the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the instructions. You use transition words such as 'Once', 'Moreover', and 'After' to guide the reader through the sequence of events. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the logistical information from the social plans. The use of cohesive devices is generally natural, though some minor improvements in sentence variety could enhance the flow even further.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for this task, such as 'commute time', 'reservation', and 'lively'. There are a few minor errors in word choice, such as 'flowering pot' (usually 'flower pot') and 'dinning table' (spelled 'dining table'). However, these do not impede communication. You use a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly and with a natural tone suitable for a personal letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'I would not be able to pick up' (missing the object 'you') and 'The house no is' (should be 'The house number is'). Additionally, '6'o clock' is non-standard punctuation. Despite these occasional errors, the majority of your sentences are error-free, and your meaning is always clear. Your control of tense and sentence structure is solid for this level.

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