Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-02

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have seen an advertisement in an Australian magazine for someone to live with a family for six months and look after their six-year-old child.

Write a letter to the parents. In your letter

• explain why you would like the job
• give details of why you would be a suitable person to employ
• say how you would spend your free time while you are in Australia

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 8.5)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to apply for the position of living with your family for six months and taking care of your six-year-old child. I recently came across your advertisement in an Australian magazine, and I believe I would be an excellent candidate for this role.

I would like this job because I enjoy spending time with children and learning about different cultures. Living with an Australian family would allow me to improve my English, experience everyday life in Australia, and build meaningful relationships while providing support to your family.

I believe I am well suited for this position because I am a responsible, patient, and caring person. I have experience looking after young children in my family, including helping them with homework, preparing simple meals, and organizing fun and educational activities. In addition, I am reliable, organized, and able to remain calm in unexpected situations. I understand the importance of ensuring a child's safety and well-being at all times.

During my free time in Australia, I would like to explore local attractions, visit museums and parks, and improve my English by attending community events or language classes. I also enjoy reading, exercising, and meeting new people, which would help me learn more about Australian culture.

Thank you for considering my application. I would be delighted to discuss my qualifications further in an interview. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Mohandeep Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all three bullet points required by the task. You clearly explain your motivation for wanting the job, provide relevant details regarding your suitability, such as your experience with children and your personal traits, and outline your plans for your free time. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of application, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, providing the reader with a comprehensive overview of your qualifications and intentions. You have successfully met all the requirements of the prompt in a professional and structured manner.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the prompt. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the purpose of the letter to your qualifications and finally to your personal plans. You use cohesive devices such as 'In addition,' 'During my free time,' and 'Furthermore' effectively to link your sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is clear and easy to follow. There is a natural flow throughout the text, and the use of referencing is accurate, ensuring that the reader can easily track your points.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for a formal application. Phrases like 'excellent candidate,' 'meaningful relationships,' and 'unexpected situations' show a solid command of language. The vocabulary is precise and fits the context well. While the range is sufficient and effective, incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common collocations could elevate the response further. However, the current usage is accurate, and there are no errors in word choice that impede communication or cause confusion for the reader.

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 'Living with an Australian family would allow me to improve my English, experience everyday life in Australia, and build meaningful relationships while providing support to your family.' Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no significant grammatical errors. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over verb tenses and word order is consistent. This level of accuracy is indicative of a strong command of English grammar.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.