Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-14

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You are planning a business trip to another city. You will have some free time to do some sightseeing while you are there.
 

Write a letter to a friend who lives in the city you will visit. In your letter:
• explain the purpose of the trip.
• ask about things to do and see in the city.
• invite your friend to do something with you during your visit.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ____

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear Harpreet,

I hope you are doing well. It has been a while since we met for the last time. You will be pleased to know that my company is sending me to your city for a business trip.

I will be arrive in Onatario on 15th November and will stay there for a couple of weeks. Since I will have a plenty of free time during my stay, I am planing to visit lake onatario and niagara falls. I will also visit gurdwara sahib if my shedule will allow me.

Therefore, I want you to accompany me to visit these places. We will click a lot of pictures and also eat food in an Indian restaurant. I have plans to host a dinner party at my home and I will invite all my friends. You are also invited. I hope you will have a great time.

Waiting to hear back from you soon.

Best regards,

Iqbal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The letter covers all three required points: you explain that your company is sending you on a business trip, mention sightseeing plans, and invite Harpreet to join you. The friendly opening and closing also suit the purpose. However, some ideas are only partly developed or are unclear. For example, “I want you to accompany me to visit these places” does not specify which outing you most want to share, and the dinner invitation shifts to a party at your own home without explaining how this relates to your visit to Harpreet’s city. Ask more directly for your friend’s recommendations and give a clearer, practical invitation, such as suggesting a particular day or activity.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The information follows a generally sensible order: you introduce the trip, describe possible sightseeing, and then invite your friend. The closing is appropriate, and linking phrases such as “Since” and “Therefore” help connect ideas. However, the progression is sometimes mechanical, and the relationship between the sightseeing invitation and the dinner party is not fully clear. The paragraphing also leaves the main points in one long block, making the shift from trip details to invitations less distinct. Separate the purpose, questions about local attractions, and invitation into clear paragraphs, and use references such as “these attractions” only when their meaning is unmistakable.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main message, including relevant terms such as “business trip,” “free time,” “sightseeing,” and “dinner party.” The tone is appropriately friendly. However, the range is fairly basic, and several spelling or word-choice errors reduce accuracy, including “Onatario,” “planing,” “shedule,” and “gurdwara sahib.” Some phrasing is also less natural, such as “eat food in an Indian restaurant” and “visit lake onatario.” Use accurate place names and more natural collocations, for example, “have a meal at an Indian restaurant” and “visit Lake Ontario.” A few more precise expressions for asking about local attractions would also make the letter more fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The letter includes a mix of simple sentences and some longer structures, such as “Since I will have a plenty of free time during my stay, I am planing to visit…” The overall meaning remains clear, and several sentences are grammatically straightforward. Some errors remain in verb forms, articles, and conditional phrasing. For example, “I will be arrive” should be “I will arrive,” “a plenty of free time” should be “plenty of free time,” and “if my schedule will allow me” should be “if my schedule allows.” These errors do not usually prevent understanding, but checking verb patterns and article use would improve control. Try varying sentence structures while keeping each clause accurate.

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

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