Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-07
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 Alex,
I hope you are doing well. It was great to hear from you, and I am happy to help you find a job here. I recently heard about a position at a local company called GreenTech Solutions that might be suitable for you.
The company is looking for a customer service assistant. The job involves answering customers’ questions by phone and email, dealing with complaints, updating records, and helping clients with their orders. You may also need to work with other departments to solve customers’ problems.
I think this job would be perfect for you because you have excellent communication skills and gained valuable customer-service experience while we were studying abroad. In addition, your ability to speak several languages would be a great advantage.
To apply, you should visit the company’s website and complete the online application form. You will also need to upload your CV and a short cover letter. Applications close next Friday.
Best wishes,
Sam
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 9.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 9.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0
The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly describe the job at GreenTech Solutions, explain why it is a good fit based on your friend's previous experience and language skills, and provide a clear, actionable set of instructions for the application process. The tone is consistently appropriate for a letter to a friend, maintaining a friendly and helpful persona throughout. All parts of the task are well-developed, and the information provided is relevant and sufficient 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 structure easy to follow. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition' and 'To apply', to link your ideas smoothly. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition from the opening pleasantries to the job details and finally the application instructions is seamless. The use of referencing is clear, and the overall flow of the letter is natural and coherent.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the context of a job recommendation. Phrases like 'valuable customer-service experience' and 'great advantage' are used accurately and naturally. While the vocabulary is functional and precise, it is generally standard. To reach the highest bands, you could incorporate slightly more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions that fit a friendly letter, such as 'a perfect match for your skill set' or 'I highly recommend you look into this'. However, the current range is more than adequate for the task.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5
The grammar is highly accurate throughout the letter. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences such as 'The job involves answering customers’ questions by phone and email, dealing with complaints, updating records, and helping clients with their orders.' Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no noticeable errors in tense or agreement. The control over complex structures is consistent, and the writing is error-free, which reflects a high level of grammatical competence.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.