Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-02

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 around your home next summer. I would be very interested in taking on this position and believe I could assist you with a variety of household tasks.

I would be happy to help with cleaning, vacuuming, dusting and doing the laundry. I could also prepare simple meals, do grocery shopping and help with other errands if required. In addition, I am comfortable looking after pets and watering plants, so I would be glad to take care of these responsibilities as well.

I would like to do this work because I enjoy helping others and would appreciate the opportunity to earn some extra money during the summer. I also believe that working in someone's home would help me develop my communication and organisational skills while gaining valuable work experience.

Regarding my availability, I will be free from Monday to Friday throughout June and July, preferably in the mornings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. However, I will not be available on weekends because I have family commitments. I will also be away for one week in mid-July, although I can be flexible with my schedule on the other days.

I would be grateful if you could let me know if you would like to discuss the position further. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Amanat Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly outlined the household tasks you can assist with, provided a logical motivation for wanting the job, and specified your availability, including the necessary exclusions. The tone is consistently appropriate for a formal letter to a potential employer. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have successfully met all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific requirement of the prompt. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'Regarding my availability', and 'However', which help to link your sentences and paragraphs naturally. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the message.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the context of a job application. Phrases like 'taking on this position', 'household tasks', 'family commitments', and 'flexible with my schedule' show a natural and precise use of language. The vocabulary is accurate and contributes to the professional tone of the letter. There are no errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The writing displays a high level of grammatical accuracy. You have used a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences, with confidence. For example, the use of conditional structures ('I would be grateful if...') and subordinate clauses ('although I can be flexible...') is handled correctly. Punctuation is used accurately throughout, and there are no significant grammatical errors to report.

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

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