Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-19

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 in response to your advertisement for someone to help you in your home next summer. I would be very interested in this opportunity and believe I could assist you with a variety of household tasks.

I could help with cleaning, doing the laundry, preparing simple meals and shopping for groceries. I would also be happy to water the plants, tidy the garden and run small errands. I am hardworking, reliable and organised, so I would make sure that all the tasks were completed properly and on time.

I would like to do this work because I enjoy helping people and would like to gain valuable work experience during my summer holiday. Moreover, I believe this job would improve my communication and organisational skills while allowing me to earn some money.

I will be available from Monday to Friday, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., throughout July and August. However, I will not be available at weekends or during the second week of August, as I will be on holiday with my family.

Yours sincerely,

Harry

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

You have fully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly outlined the specific household tasks you could assist with, provided a logical and professional justification for wanting the job, and gave precise details regarding your availability, including the necessary exceptions. The tone is consistently appropriate for a formal letter to a potential employer. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, ensuring the reader understands exactly what is being offered and when. There are no omissions, and the response is well-structured to meet the requirements of the task.

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 prompt, which makes the information easy to follow. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Moreover' to add information and 'However' to introduce a contrast regarding your availability. The transition between your skills and your motivation is smooth. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different sections of the letter, and the overall structure is coherent and professional throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly and naturally. Phrases such as 'variety of household tasks', 'valuable work experience', and 'run small errands' are well-chosen and appropriate for the context. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it is generally standard. To reach the highest bands, you could incorporate slightly more sophisticated or precise collocations to demonstrate a wider range of lexical flexibility. However, the current usage is error-free and perfectly suited to the task requirements.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

Your grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of sentence structures used correctly. You successfully employ complex sentences, such as 'I am hardworking, reliable and organised, so I would make sure that all the tasks were completed properly and on time.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable errors in tense or subject-verb agreement. The writing is fluent and error-free, demonstrating a strong command of English grammar that allows for clear and precise communication.

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

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