Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-19

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

During a recent plane journey, you sat next to a businessman who owns a chain of restaurants. You talked to him and he suggested that you should contact him about a possible job in one of his restaurants.

Write a letter to this businessman. In your letter

• remind him when and where you met
• tell him what kind of job you are interested in
• say why you think you would be suitable for the job

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. ,

Student answer (Band 8.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to follow up on the conversation we had during my recent flight from Toronto to Vancouver on 10 August. We were seated next to each other, and I greatly enjoyed talking with you about your restaurant business. You kindly suggested that I contact you if I was interested in pursuing a position at one of your restaurants.

I would be particularly interested in a position as a Restaurant Supervisor or Assistant Manager, although I would be happy to consider any suitable role that matches my experience.

I believe I would be well suited to this position because I have several years of experience in customer service and restaurant operations. In my previous role, I was responsible for serving customers, handling payments, resolving complaints and supervising staff. I also developed strong communication, leadership and organisational skills while working in a fast-paced environment.

I would be grateful if you could let me know whether there are currently any suitable vacancies. I would be happy to provide my résumé or attend an interview at your convenience.

I look forward to hearing from you.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly identified the context of the meeting (flight from Toronto to Vancouver on 10 August), specified the desired roles (Restaurant Supervisor or Assistant Manager), and provided a logical justification for your suitability by highlighting your background in customer service and operations. The tone is consistently professional and appropriate for a formal business letter. The ideas are well-developed and directly relevant to the task requirements, demonstrating a clear understanding of the purpose of the letter.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving smoothly from the introduction to the specific request and finally to the closing. Cohesive devices such as 'although', 'because', and 'in addition' are used effectively to link ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the reminder of the meeting and the job inquiry is seamless. The overall structure is coherent, making the letter easy to follow and professional in its presentation.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for a professional context. Phrases such as 'pursuing a position', 'restaurant operations', and 'at your convenience' are used accurately and naturally. The language is precise and avoids repetition. While the vocabulary is effective and fits the context well, it remains standard professional English rather than highly sophisticated or idiomatic. However, it is more than sufficient to convey your message with precision and clarity, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The writing displays a high level of grammatical control. You have successfully used a variety of complex sentence structures, such as the conditional 'if I was interested' and the concessive clause 'although I would be happy to consider'. Punctuation is accurate throughout, and there are no noticeable grammatical errors. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over verb tenses and modal verbs is excellent. The writing is polished and demonstrates a strong command of English grammar.

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

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