Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 9.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-05
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 9.0)
Dear [Name],
I’m really happy that you’re coming to stay with me, and I’m sorry that I won’t be at home when you arrive. Don’t worry, though, because I have made all the necessary arrangements for you to get into the house.
I will leave a spare key with my neighbour, Mrs Sharma, who lives in the house next door. When you arrive, just knock on her door and tell her that you are my relative. She will give you the key and show you where to enter the house. You can make yourself comfortable and relax until I get home.
As for getting here from the train station, you can take an auto-rickshaw from outside the station. It should take around 15 minutes to reach my house. I have also sent you my address and location on your phone, so you can show it to the driver. If you have any difficulty finding the place, just give me a call.
I should be home by around 6:30 p.m. In the evening, we could have dinner together at a nearby restaurant and then go for a walk around the local market. It will be great to catch up and spend some quality time together.
I’m looking forward to seeing you!
Best wishes,
Lovepreet
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 9.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 9.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 9.0 |
| Overall | 9.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0
The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained the key arrangements involving your neighbour, provided specific instructions for the transport from the station, and proposed a concrete plan for the evening. The tone is consistently appropriate for a letter to a family member, maintaining a friendly and helpful register throughout. The ideas are well-developed and logically presented, ensuring the reader has all the necessary information to navigate their arrival and your subsequent meeting. There are no omissions, and the purpose of the letter is achieved effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0
The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow the information easily. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'As for getting here' and 'If you have any difficulty', to transition between ideas smoothly. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the message. The use of referencing is accurate, and the flow of information is natural and unobtrusive, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.0
You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary that is natural and appropriate for the context of a personal letter. Phrases like 'make yourself comfortable', 'catch up', and 'spend some quality time' are idiomatic and fit the tone perfectly. While the vocabulary is not overly complex, it is precise and used with good control. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is perfectly suited to the task requirements. The range is adequate to convey all necessary details with ease.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0
The response demonstrates a high level of grammatical accuracy. You have used a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences such as 'I’m really happy that you’re coming to stay with me' and 'If you have any difficulty finding the place, just give me a call.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable grammatical errors. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and modal verbs is consistent and accurate. The writing is fluent and easy to read.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.