Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-09-02

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 5.5)

Dear Mr. Michel,

I hope you are very well . Recently my company organised an event in your hotel. In this event we are organised an annual get together for our employees.

This event was held on 6th April in this year . We enjoy this event very much . I was very happy because your hotel environment was very peaceful. In this environment gives me positive energy. In our event food was really good . Everybody loves specially desserts. But I have something to complain about your hotel staff behaviour was not polite because some kids was playing in the hall and suddenly they broke a glass . They were scared that time . Your hotel staff reaction was angry and it’s very unexpected behaviour. One suggestion from me you need to improve about your staff behaviour and management.

I hope you will improve your staff behaviour and their management methods.

Your sincerely,

Mr. Hasan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points: providing details about the event, mentioning positive aspects of the hotel, and suggesting improvements. However, the development of these points is somewhat limited. For example, the description of the event is brief, and the suggestion for improvement is quite general. While the tone is appropriate for a formal letter, the content lacks the depth required for a higher band. The response covers the requirements, but the ideas could be expanded with more specific details to better engage the reader and fully satisfy the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'In this event' and 'In this environment' are used mechanically. There is a lack of variety in linking words, which makes the flow feel somewhat disjointed. While the overall progression of ideas is logical, the transition between the positive feedback and the complaint about the staff could be smoother. Improving the use of cohesive devices would significantly enhance the readability of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks range and precision. The student relies on simple, repetitive words such as 'good', 'happy', and 'angry'. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'In this environment gives me positive energy', which is grammatically awkward and unnatural. To reach a higher band, the student should aim to use more varied and sophisticated vocabulary, such as 'ambience' instead of 'environment' or 'unprofessional' instead of 'not polite'. The current range is sufficient to convey the message, but it does not demonstrate the flexibility required for a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'In this event we are organised' (incorrect tense), 'some kids was playing' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'your hotel staff behaviour was not polite' (missing possessive or preposition). These errors are noticeable and occasionally impede the flow of reading. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of control over basic grammatical structures prevents a higher score. More attention to verb tenses and subject-verb agreement is necessary.

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

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