Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-19

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You live in a small apartment building. You are frequently bothered by noise from your upstairs neighbour's apartment.

Write a letter to your neighbour. In your letter
• describe the situation.
• explain why it is a problem for you.
• suggest a solution.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear _________,

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear Neighbour,

I am writing this letter to let you know about the noise coming from your apartment especially in the late evenings. Sometimes I heard loud music, noise of moving furniture and loud footsteps particularly late in the evening.

Unfortunately, this has become a problem for me as I am currently working and I need to wake up early in the morning for my job. I need a quiet environment at night so that I can sleep properly but the noises from your apartment makes it difficult for me due to which I feel tired at work and unable to concentrate on my duties.

I will be very helpful for me if you will use the rug to avoid the furniture noise and I would really appreciate if you will low down the music and reduce the footsteps after 10.

I hope you understand my sit

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: describing the noise, explaining the impact on your work, and suggesting solutions. However, the response is incomplete, ending abruptly with 'I hope you understand my sit' and failing to provide a proper closing. Additionally, the word count is below the 150-word minimum requirement. To improve, ensure you complete your sentences and reach the minimum length by expanding on your ideas, such as mentioning how long this has been happening or expressing a desire to maintain a good neighbourly relationship.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized into three paragraphs, each addressing a specific part of the prompt. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from the problem to the impact and finally to the solution. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat limited and repetitive. For example, the transition 'due to which' is slightly awkward. The abrupt ending significantly disrupts the flow and coherence of the final paragraph. Using a wider range of linking words and ensuring a complete, formal closing would improve the overall structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your message clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'environment', 'concentrate', and 'appreciate'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'I will be very helpful for me' (should be 'It would be very helpful') and 'low down the music' (should be 'turn down'). The range is somewhat limited, and the vocabulary does not demonstrate the flexibility required for higher bands. Expanding your range of collocations would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'Sometimes I heard' (should be 'I hear'), 'noises... makes' (subject-verb agreement error), and the incorrect use of future tense in 'if you will use' (should be 'if you could use'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the incomplete final sentence is a significant error. To reach a higher band, focus on consistent verb tense usage and subject-verb agreement, and ensure all sentences are grammatically complete.

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

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