Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-16

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Student answer (Band 8.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to formally report an ongoing disturbance caused by a neighbour who rents a flat in the same building through your accommodation agency.

The issue began approximately a week ago. Since last Tuesday, the tenant living in apartment 4B has taken to playing video games at an extremely high volume late at night, usually between midnight and 3:00 AM.

This persistent noise is severely impacting my daily life. Because the walls are quite thin, the sound of shouting and booming bass echoes directly into my bedroom. Consequently, I have been unable to sleep properly, leaving me exhausted during the day and struggling to concentrate on my university responsibilities.

I would be grateful if you could look into this matter urgently. Could you please contact the tenant or send an official reminder regarding the building's quiet hours and noise policy?

I look forward to your prompt assistance in resolving this issue.

Yours faithfully,

Alex Morgan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully satisfies the requirements of a formal complaint letter. The purpose of the letter is immediately clear, and all necessary details are effectively included, such as the timeframe of the issue ("approximately a week ago"), the specific apartment number ("4B"), the exact timing of the disturbance ("midnight and 3:00 AM"), and a concrete request for action ("contact the tenant or send an official reminder"). The tone is appropriately formal and polite yet firm. The position is maintained consistently throughout the text, and ideas are fully developed without any irrelevant tangents or omissions, easily satisfying the criteria for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter exhibits a clear logical progression, moving naturally from the statement of purpose to the background of the issue, its specific impact on the writer, and finally the requested resolution. Paragraphing is used very effectively, with each paragraph serving a distinct and unified purpose. Cohesive devices such as referencing ("This persistent noise", "The issue") and logical connectors ("Consequently") are managed well and used naturally. There are no abrupt shifts in focus, and the overall structure feels cohesive and unobtrusive, perfectly suited to a professional correspondence task.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The student demonstrates a wide, flexible, and natural range of vocabulary well-suited to a formal complaint. Expressions such as "formally report an ongoing disturbance", "persistent noise", and "university responsibilities" flow naturally and show precision. Less common lexical items and collocations are used skillfully, such as "booming bass" and "prompt assistance". Word choice and spelling are entirely accurate throughout the response, with no noticeable flaws or awkward formulations, demonstrating a strong command of functional English.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response features a wide range of grammatical structures, successfully blending complex sentences with accurate simple forms. Examples of complex structures include participial phrases ("leaving me exhausted during the day and struggling to concentrate") and conditional-like time clauses ("Since last Tuesday, the tenant living in apartment 4B has taken to playing..."). The vast majority of sentences are completely error-free, with flawless punctuation, subject-verb agreement, and tense consistency. Control over grammar is exceptionally secure, allowing for smooth, natural reading without any hindrance to communication.

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