Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-15

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 Simran,

How are you? I hope you are doing well. I wanted to let you know that I am visiting your city next week for a business trip. This trip is for 5 days. I will come here for healthcare sessions in which I have taught people about fitness and healthy diet. The most interesting thing is that I am free for 2 days .So, I am planning to visit you. We will do shopping together and also visit some places like Stanley park and Canada place. Moreover, We will also explore some restaurants and try different cuisines. I hope you will come with me . I am staying in civic hotel in Vancour which is close to your Apartment. If you don't mind, you are welcome to stay with me for two days . I look forward to hearing from you. Take care and best regards to your family.

Yours lovely,

Arshdeep kaur.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You cover the main purpose of the letter by explaining that you are visiting for a five-day business trip and mentioning healthcare sessions. You also ask about activities indirectly by suggesting shopping, parks, and restaurants, and you invite Simran to join you and stay at your hotel. However, the request for your friend’s recommendations is not explicit: ask directly what sights or activities they would recommend. The purpose of the healthcare sessions is also unclear in “in which I have taught people,” and the invitation could be more specific about when or what you would like to do together. These details leave some parts less fully developed than others.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter follows a generally understandable sequence: you explain your visit, describe possible activities, make an invitation, and close politely. Linking expressions such as “Moreover” and “So” help connect ideas, and the reader can follow the overall message. However, the response is presented as one long paragraph, so the purpose, sightseeing plans, and invitation are not clearly separated. Some connections feel abrupt, particularly the move from your free time to “I am planning to visit you.” Use two or three short paragraphs and make the request for recommendations a distinct point. This would create clearer progression and make the letter easier to read.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough everyday vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “business trip,” “sightseeing,” “restaurants,” and “different cuisines.” Naming Stanley Park and Canada Place also makes your plans more concrete. However, some expressions are imprecise or unnatural, such as “healthcare sessions,” “I have taught people about fitness,” and “Yours lovely.” There are also spelling and capitalisation slips in “Vancour” and “Apartment.” Choose more natural phrases for the context, such as “health and fitness workshops,” and use conventional letter-closing language. Greater accuracy in collocation and spelling would make your vocabulary more effective and appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple sentences and some longer structures, including “If you don't mind, you are welcome to stay with me for two days,” and your meaning is generally clear. There are some errors in sentence construction and punctuation, but they rarely prevent understanding. For example, “I will come here for healthcare sessions in which I have taught people” shifts awkwardly between future and present perfect; “I will be leading sessions on fitness and healthy eating” would keep the time relationship clear. There are also inconsistent spaces before punctuation and unnecessary capitalisation after “Moreover.” Review tense consistency and punctuation while retaining the clear, straightforward sentence patterns you already use.

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

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