Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-30

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

A friend you made while you were studying abroad has written to ask you for help in finding a job in your country. You have heard about a job in a local company that might be suitable for him/her.

Write a letter to this friend. In your letter

• tell your friend about the job and what sort of work it involves
• say why you think the job would be suitable for him/her
• explain how to apply for the job

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

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

Student answer (Band 8.5)

Dear Daniel,

I hope you’re doing well. I recently heard about a job at a local company that I think would be perfect for you, so I wanted to let you know about it.

The company is currently looking for a customer service representative. The role involves answering customers’ questions, handling complaints, responding to emails and helping clients with their orders. It is a full-time position, and the company provides training for new employees.

I think this job would suit you particularly well because you have excellent communication skills and you gained valuable customer service experience while we were studying abroad. You are also patient and friendly, which are important qualities for this type of work.

If you are interested, you can apply through the company’s website. You simply need to complete the online application form and upload your CV and a cover letter. The application deadline is next Friday, so I would suggest applying as soon as possible.

Let me know if you need any help with your application. I’d be happy to help.

Best wishes,

Reezul

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly describe the job role (customer service representative), explain why it is suitable for your friend by referencing their communication skills and previous experience, and provide clear instructions on how to apply. The tone is appropriately informal and friendly, fitting the context of writing to a friend. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the opening paragraph. You have successfully met all 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 aspect of the task, which makes the information easy to follow. You use appropriate cohesive devices such as 'The role involves', 'I think this job would suit you', and 'If you are interested', which help to connect your sentences and paragraphs smoothly. The paragraphing is logical, and the transition between the job description and the application process is natural and effective.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a semi-formal or informal letter. Phrases like 'valuable customer service experience', 'full-time position', and 'application deadline' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it is mostly standard. To reach the highest bands, you could incorporate slightly more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions that sound natural in a friendly letter, such as 'right up your alley' or 'keep an eye out for'. However, the current usage is precise and error-free.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

Your grammar is highly accurate throughout the letter. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences with 'because' and 'which', as well as conditional structures like 'If you are interested, you can apply...'. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no noticeable errors in tense or subject-verb agreement. The writing is fluent and easy to read, with a high level of control over grammatical forms. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which is indicative of a high level of proficiency.

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

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