Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-24

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Mrs Barrett, an English-speaking woman who lives in your town, has advertised for someone to help her in her home for a few hours a day next summer.

Write a letter to Mrs Barrett. In your letter

• suggest how you could help her in her home
• say why you would like to do this work
• explain when you will and will not be available

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Mrs Barrett,

Student answer (Band 8.5)

Dear Mrs Barrett,

I am writing to apply for the job you advertised to help you in your home next summer. I believe I would be a suitable person for this position.

I can help you with many household tasks, such as cleaning the house, washing dishes, doing the laundry, preparing simple meals, and shopping for groceries. If needed, I can also take care of your garden and help with any other daily chores.

I would like to do this work because I enjoy helping people and I would like to improve my English by speaking with a native English speaker. In addition, I want to earn some money during my summer holiday to support my studies.

Regarding my availability, I will be free from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. However, I will not be available on weekends because I have family responsibilities. I will also be away for one week in August due to a family trip.

I would be grateful if you could consider my application. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Danile Ezurike

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The letter fully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly outlined the household tasks you can assist with, provided logical reasons for wanting the job (improving English and earning money), and specified your availability, including the necessary exclusions for weekends and your August trip. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a prospective employer, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, meeting all requirements for a Band 8.0 performance in this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific requirement of the task. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the purpose of the letter to specific duties, motivations, and finally availability. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'Regarding my availability', and 'However', which help guide the reader through the text. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct topics, ensuring the letter is easy to follow and coherent throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message with precision. Phrases like 'suitable person for this position', 'household tasks', and 'family responsibilities' are natural and appropriate for the context. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it stays within a standard range. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items related to domestic assistance or professional correspondence. Nevertheless, the language is error-free and perfectly suited to the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The letter displays a good command of grammatical structures. You successfully use a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the conditional 'If needed, I can also...' and the subordinate clauses in your explanation of availability. Punctuation is accurate, and there are no noticeable grammatical errors. The writing is fluent and clear, showing consistent control over sentence construction. The level of accuracy is high, with no slips that impede communication or distract the reader.

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