Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-22

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 Rahul,

I’m really looking forward to having you stay with me! I’m sorry that I won’t be able to meet you at the station because I have to work until the evening, but don’t worry—I’ve made arrangements so that you can get into the house easily.

I’ll leave a spare key with my neighbour, Mrs. Brown, who lives in the house next door. When you arrive, just knock on her door and tell her that you’re my cousin. She’ll give you the key, and you can let yourself into the house. I’ll leave your room ready, and there will also be some food and drinks in the fridge, so please make yourself comfortable.

As for getting to my house, the easiest option is to take a taxi from the station. It should take around 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can take the number 7 bus from outside the station and get off at the Oak Street stop. My house is about a five-minute walk from there. I’ll send you the exact address and directions on your phone as well.

I should be home by around 6:30 p.m. Once I’m back, we could go out for dinner at the Italian restaurant near my house. After that, we could take a walk around the neighbourhood and catch up properly. If you’re tired after the journey, we can simply order some food and have a relaxing evening at home.

Anyway, I’m really excited to see you. Have a safe journey, and I’ll see you in the evening!

Best wishes,

Jay

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained the key arrangements with the neighbour, provided two distinct options for transport from the station, and suggested specific activities for the evening. The tone is consistently appropriate for a letter to a family member, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and provide sufficient detail to satisfy the requirements of the task. There are no omissions, and the response flows logically from one point to the next, demonstrating a strong grasp of 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 aspect of the prompt, which makes the information easy to follow. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Alternatively', 'As for', and 'Once I’m back', which help to connect sentences and paragraphs smoothly. The use of paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is coherent. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words; the flow is natural and supports the reader's understanding throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and natural range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the context of the letter. Phrases like 'make yourself comfortable', 'catch up properly', and 'relaxing evening' are used accurately and appropriately. The vocabulary is precise and contributes to the friendly, informal tone required for this task. There are no spelling errors, and the word choice is consistently strong throughout the response. You have successfully used a range of vocabulary that allows for flexibility and precision in your communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The response displays a high level of grammatical control. You have used a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences, with very high accuracy. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable grammatical errors. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the few complex structures used are handled with ease. The control over verb tenses and modal verbs (e.g., 'would', 'could', 'should') is excellent, ensuring that the meaning is conveyed clearly and naturally. This is a very strong performance in terms of grammatical range and accuracy.

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

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