Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-11-06

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You let a friend stay at your apartment while you were away on a trip. When you returned home, you discovered that a valuable possession was broken.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter
• describe the broken possession.
• explain why it is important to you.
• explain what you would like your friend to do.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear _________,

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear Tina,

I hope you're doing well! Thank you so much for staying in at my home! when I was on trip. I found that one of my house appliances was broken.

Actually, after returning from my vacation, I was trying to use a microwave to heat up my food, but it was not working. This kitchen appliance was in good condition when I used last time just before my holidays. Burning smell was noticed while opening the door of it.

I have attached my emotion and personal need regarding it, as I had been using for many years. My mother gifted me on my 20th birthday, so it is a special for me. Plus, I had used for my daily purpose to warm up my food .

I believe that something happend while I was away. For this reason, I would like you to explain me in detail this incident.

I'm waiting for your reply. Just give me a ring when you are avaliable.

Kind Regards,

Raj

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You cover the three requested points: you identify the microwave, explain that it was a gift from your mother for your 20th birthday and part of your daily routine, and ask Tina to explain what happened. These details make the letter relevant and personal. However, the request is not fully clear: “explain me in detail this incident” asks for an account, but does not say what practical action you expect, such as discussing repair or replacement. The importance of the appliance is also only briefly developed. To strengthen the response, state your preferred next step directly and add a little more explanation of why this particular microwave matters to you.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter follows a sensible overall order: greeting and context, description of the damage, personal significance, and a request for a reply. Paragraph breaks help the reader distinguish these stages, and phrases such as “Actually” and “For this reason” signal connections between ideas. Some links are less smooth, however. The opening sentence is interrupted by “when I was on trip,” and the move from the microwave’s condition to the burning smell could be more clearly expressed. The final request also repeats the idea of waiting for a reply without clarifying the action sought. Use complete, connected sentences and make each paragraph advance one clear point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the situation, including “microwave,” “burning smell,” “gifted me,” and “daily purpose.” These details help identify the item and explain its personal value. However, several word choices and collocations sound unnatural or imprecise, such as “staying in at my home,” “attached my emotion,” and “daily purpose.” “House appliances” is also less precise than the singular item you describe. Spelling errors such as “happend” and “avaliable” are noticeable. Aim for natural phrases that fit a friendly letter, and check spelling carefully; more precise wording will make your meaning clearer and more fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex forms, including the time clause “when I was away” and the reason structure “For this reason.” The main message is generally understandable, but errors in sentence construction and verb forms sometimes make the reader pause. For example, “Thank you so much for staying in at my home! when I was on trip” is not a complete, well-connected sentence, while “I had been using for many years” lacks a clear object and does not fit the intended meaning. There are also article and preposition problems in “a special for me” and “explain me.” Practise complete sentence patterns and check tense, articles, and pronoun placement.

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

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