Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Predictions Nov 2026 · 2026-11-10

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You take the number 24 bus from Northfield to the city centre several times a week. Recently, you have found it difficult to plan your journeys because you cannot rely on the service. You decide to write to the bus company to explain your concerns and ask it to improve the service.

Write a letter to the bus company. In your letter

• explain why you use this bus service
• describe the problems you have experienced with it
• suggest what changes the company could make to improve the service

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 5.5)

DEAR SIR,

TODAY I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO ADDRESS MY CONCERN REGARDING THE BUS SERVICE IN MY TOWN. I USUALLY TAKE BUS NUMBER 24 FROM THE CITY TO TRAVEL FROM MY HOME TO WORK. BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE MY OWN VEHICLE TO TRAVEL.

RECENTLY, I STARTED FACING PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING OF THE BUS. NORMALLY, I LEAVE AROUND 7:30 IN THE MORNING FROM NORTHFIELD AND ARRIVE AT 8. BUT FROM LAST FEW DAYS, THE BUS HAS BEEN COMING AT 8 AT THE PICKUP SPOT AND DUE TO THIS REASON, I HAVE BEEN ARRIVING LATE EVERDAY.

I KINDLY REQUEST YOU TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT EFFECT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE USING THIS BUS FOR THEIR WORK. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD HELP US IN THIS SITUATION.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU SOON.

YOURS SINCERELY,

ARSHDEEP KAUR

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You explain that you use the number 24 to travel from home to work and describe a specific reliability problem: the bus has recently arrived at 8 instead of around 7:30, making you late. However, the task asks why you use this service, and the reason given—“I do not have my own vehicle”—is only briefly stated. More importantly, you do not suggest any concrete changes the company could make; asking it to “take immediate action” does not specify an improvement. The letter therefore addresses the task only minimally, with important parts missing or underdeveloped. It is also two words below the required minimum. To improve, explain the service’s importance and propose practical steps, such as reviewing the timetable or providing updates about delays.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a recognisable structure: an opening that states your purpose, a paragraph describing the delay, a request for action, and a closing. The sequence is easy to follow, and phrases such as “Recently” and “due to this reason” help connect the problem to its effect. This clear overall arrangement is a strength. However, the first paragraph combines several ideas in a way that feels abrupt, particularly the sentence “Because I do not have my own vehicle to travel,” which is not connected smoothly to the preceding sentence. The final request also repeats the general concern without moving to a specific proposed solution. Develop each task point in its own paragraph and use clearer links between the reason for using the bus, the problem, and the requested changes.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main situation, using relevant terms such as “bus service,” “timing,” “pickup spot,” and “arriving late.” The reader can understand that the service is unreliable and affects your journey to work. However, the range is limited, and some expressions are unnatural or imprecise, including “facing problem with the timing,” “from last few days,” and “it effect a lot of people.” These choices make the letter less fluent and polished, although the central meaning remains clear. Aim for more precise collocations associated with transport and reliability, such as “experiencing delays,” “over the past few days,” and “affects many passengers.” Also use a consistent, appropriate level of formality rather than relying on broad phrases such as “take immediate action.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You communicate the main events using simple past and present forms, and the sentence “I have been arriving late every day” attempts a suitable tense to describe a continuing effect. However, the range of sentence structures is limited, and several errors occur in basic sentence construction. “Because I do not have my own vehicle to travel” is a fragment, while “I usually take bus number 24” needs an article before “bus.” In “it effect a lot of people,” the subject–verb form is incorrect, and “from last few days” has an inaccurate prepositional pattern. Capitalising the entire letter also makes punctuation and sentence boundaries harder to read. Practise joining dependent clauses to complete sentences and check articles, verb agreement, and prepositions before submitting.

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