Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-01

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You live in a small apartment building with a parking lot in back, and you often cannot find an empty parking space when you get home from work.

Write a letter to your landlord. In your letter
• describe the situation.
• explain why it bothers you.
• suggest something the landlord could do to solve the problem.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ____

Student answer (Band 5.0)

Dear Landlord,

I hope you are doing well, i am writing this letter to inform you about the problem i am facing regarding the parking spot in your building.

I usually need to park my car in the back parking lot during night because i work during the days but most of the time when i reach back home from the work and i couldn't get any available parking spot. So i always have to park on the road or sometimes on the paid parking. my biggest concern is all apartments are allowed to park 2 cars each and we have enough spots according to this rule but how come all spots

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the development of the task. While you have attempted to describe the situation and explain why it is a problem, the letter is incomplete; it cuts off mid-sentence before you can fully suggest a solution or provide a formal closing. Because the response is unfinished and under-length, it does not address all parts of the task effectively. To improve, ensure you fully develop each bullet point and provide a complete, coherent letter structure.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter lacks a clear structure due to its unfinished nature. While there is an attempt at paragraphing, the abrupt ending prevents a logical flow of ideas. Cohesive devices are minimal, and the transition between the description of the problem and the proposed solution is interrupted. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear purpose and that you use linking words such as 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'however' to connect your thoughts logically. A complete letter would naturally include a clear introduction, body paragraphs for the requirements, and a formal sign-off.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying on simple phrases like 'problem I am facing' and 'available parking spot'. There is little evidence of a range of vocabulary suitable for a formal letter to a landlord. You should aim to use more precise terminology related to housing and parking issues. For example, instead of 'get any available parking spot', you could use 'secure a vacant space'. The lack of length also limits your ability to demonstrate a wider range of lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are several grammatical errors throughout the text. You frequently use lowercase 'i' instead of the capital 'I', which is a consistent error. There are also issues with verb tense consistency, such as 'I work during the days' (should be 'during the day') and 'when i reach back home from the work' (the 'the' is unnecessary). Sentence structures are mostly simple, and the unfinished sentence at the end makes it impossible to assess your ability to use complex structures effectively. Focus on proofreading for basic punctuation and capitalization.

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

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