Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-26

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You recently helped your company organise an event at a hotel. Write a letter to the hotel manager. In your letter:

– Provide details about the event
– Mention what you particularly liked about the hotel
– Suggest areas for improvement.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir / Madam,

Student answer (Band 4.5)

In many urban areas, people are finding it difficult to spend quality time with their loved ones due to working more than 8 hours, and having a hectic schedule every day. This situation can lead to conflicts with family members; however, we can tackle this problem by spending quality time with them.

One major problem is that spending less time with family causes disputes and weaker relationships. People who are working long hours, and spending less time with their children feel emotionally disconnected and neglected.For instance, parents who come home late everyday, never get a chance to sit with their young ones, and enjoy the quality time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 3.0

The response is completely off-topic. The task required a formal letter to a hotel manager regarding a recent event, including specific details, positive feedback, and suggestions for improvement. Instead, the student wrote an essay about work-life balance and family relationships. Because the response fails to address any of the bullet points or the required format (letter), it does not fulfill the task requirements. Furthermore, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum, which further impacts the score. To improve, you must carefully read the prompt and ensure your response directly addresses the specific scenario and instructions provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0

While the text is internally coherent as an essay, it fails to follow the structure of a letter. There is no salutation or closing, and the paragraphing is suited for an argumentative essay rather than a professional correspondence. The use of cohesive devices like 'however' and 'for instance' is present, but because the content is irrelevant to the task, the overall organization does not serve the purpose of the prompt. To improve, focus on the structure of a letter, including a clear opening, distinct paragraphs for each bullet point, and a formal sign-off.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for expressing general ideas, such as 'hectic schedule', 'emotionally disconnected', and 'neglected'. However, the range is limited and does not demonstrate the specific vocabulary required for a business letter (e.g., terminology related to event management, hospitality, or feedback). The language is repetitive, and the lack of context-appropriate terminology prevents a higher score. To improve, practice using topic-specific vocabulary related to the task, such as 'amenities', 'service standards', 'logistics', or 'recommendations'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The grammar is generally clear, with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some minor errors, such as the comma usage in 'long hours, and spending less time' and the redundant 'everyday' (which should be 'every day' as an adverbial phrase). Despite these, the meaning is easy to follow. The range of structures is limited, relying heavily on standard subject-verb-object patterns. To improve, focus on eliminating minor punctuation errors and incorporating a wider variety of complex sentence structures to enhance the sophistication of your writing.

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.