Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-23

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 8.0)

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 taking on this work.

I could help you with a variety of household tasks, such as cleaning, doing the laundry, preparing simple meals and doing the shopping. I would also be happy to help with any other small tasks that you may need assistance with.

I would like to do this work because I enjoy helping people and I am looking for a part-time job during the summer. I believe this would also be a good opportunity to improve my communication skills and gain some useful work experience.

I will be available from the beginning of June until the end of August. I can work on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., but I will not be available on weekends because I have some family commitments.

I look forward to hearing from you and hope you will consider my application.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name]

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly outline the household tasks you can perform, provide a logical reason for wanting the job, and specify your availability with clear start/end dates and daily hours. The tone is consistently appropriate for a formal letter to a potential employer. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, meeting all requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

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 use appropriate paragraphing and basic cohesive devices such as 'such as', 'also', and 'but' to link ideas effectively. The flow is natural, and the structure is well-suited to the format of a formal letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a job application letter. Phrases like 'taking on this work', 'variety of household tasks', and 'family commitments' are used accurately and naturally. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it is somewhat standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more precise or sophisticated collocations to demonstrate a wider range of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The grammar is highly accurate throughout the response. You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures correctly, such as the conditional 'I would be very interested' and the complex sentence 'I will be available from the beginning of June until the end of August.' Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no noticeable errors that impede communication. The control over tense and modal verbs is consistent and precise.

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

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