Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 9.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-06
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)
Hello Suhani,
Hope you're doing well. I'm really looking forward to your visit. Unfortunately, I'll be at work when you arrive but I have already made arrangements so that so you won't have any trouble getting into the house.
I have left a spare key with my neighbor, Ms. Smith, who lives next door in House No. 14. She has kindly agreed to let you in, so just knock on her door and introduce yourself. Once you have the key, make yourself at home.
To reach my house, leave the train station through the Oak Street exit. From there, catch Bus No. 10 to Green Avenue and get off at Brooks Avenue. It is only a five-minute walk from the stop. Alternatively, you can take a taxi, which should take around 15 minutes, depending on the traffic.
I will be arriving at home by 6 p.m. We could have dinner at the newly opened Indian restaurant nearby, or, if you're tired after the journey, we can simply order some food online and spend the evening catching up.
Can't wait to see you!
Regards,
Muskan
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 neighbor, provided specific directions from the train station using both public transport and taxi options, and stated your arrival time while proposing two distinct activities 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 the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. There are no omissions, and the information provided is practical and relevant to the task requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0
The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific requirement of the task, which aids readability. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'To reach my house,' 'From there,' and 'Alternatively,' to guide the reader through the directions. The transition between the arrival arrangements and the evening plans is smooth. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different topics, and the opening and closing salutations are standard and correct for this type of correspondence.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.0
The vocabulary is natural, precise, and well-suited to the context of a personal letter. You use a good range of functional language, such as 'make yourself at home,' 'depending on the traffic,' and 'catching up.' The word choices are accurate and demonstrate a good level of fluency. While the vocabulary is not overly complex, it is perfectly appropriate for the task and conveys the intended meaning without any errors. The use of phrasal verbs and collocations is natural and contributes to the overall coherence of the message.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0
The grammar is highly accurate throughout the response. You have successfully used a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences with conditional clauses ('if you're tired... we can simply order') and future forms ('I'll be at work,' 'I will be arriving'). Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no grammatical errors that impede communication. The control over verb tenses and modal verbs is excellent, reflecting a high level of proficiency. The writing is error-free, which is consistent with the requirements for a high band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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