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 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,

This is your neighbour. I hope you are doing well, and I hope this email finds you well. I live in a downstairs apartment. I am having a small issue with the noise coming from your flat, including running and throwing heavy objects on the floor. It's fine when I am not doing anything; nevertheless, I am working a hybrid job, so sometimes when I am in an online meeting or talking to clients. Moreover, I am having difficulty getting sleep on the weekends when you and your friends come for a party that loud speakers sounds like what keeps me up all night.

So, to solve this issue, you can take care of some things, especially on weekends. By not just throwing stuff on the ground and by not turn on your speakers after 9 PM, and going somewhere else for the party. Like a house not in apparment.

I hope you understand my problem

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three requested points: you describe noise from “running and throwing heavy objects,” explain that it disrupts online meetings and weekend sleep, and propose reducing noise after 9 p.m. The purpose is clear and the tone is generally polite. However, some points are less fully developed than others. For example, “going somewhere else for the party” is a solution, but you could make it more tactful and explain that this would help avoid disturbing residents. The opening also repeats the same well-wish, while the closing does not clearly invite a response or agreement. Develop the request with a specific, considerate proposal, such as asking your neighbour to use headphones or keep gatherings quieter.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter follows a broadly sensible order: it introduces the noise, explains its effects, and then suggests changes. Connectors such as “nevertheless” and “Moreover” help signal the relationship between ideas. However, some links feel mechanical or unclear, and the solution is presented as a fragment: “By not just throwing stuff on the ground and by not turn on your speakers after 9 PM, and going somewhere else for the party.” The shift from describing the problem to making requests would be clearer with a complete sentence and a separate paragraph for the proposed solution. The repeated opening (“I hope you are doing well” and “I hope this email finds you well”) also weakens the progression. Use fewer, more purposeful transitions and make each paragraph perform a distinct function.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main concerns, including “online meeting,” “clients,” “heavy objects,” and “speakers.” However, the range is limited in places, and several choices are informal or imprecise for a polite neighbour letter. “Stuff,” “flat,” and “a party that loud speakers sounds like” do not express the situation naturally; “loud music” or “a gathering with loud speakers” would be clearer. There are also spelling and word-form issues, including “apparment” and “speakers sounds.” Aim for more precise phrases such as “repeated impact noise” and “keep the volume down,” while maintaining a courteous tone. This would make the request sound both clearer and more appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast introduced by “nevertheless” and an explanation of how the noise affects your work and sleep. The main meaning is usually understandable, but some sentence structures are incomplete or inaccurately formed. For instance, “sometimes when I am in an online meeting or talking to clients” is a dependent clause without a complete main clause, and “by not turn on your speakers” should use “turning.” The sentence about weekend parties also has agreement and structure problems: “loud speakers sounds like what keeps me up all night.” Use complete sentences and check verb forms and agreement. For example: “The loud music from your speakers often keeps me awake.”

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.