Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-07-26
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 friend,
I hope you are doing well. I am writing this email to inform you about a broken piece of a photo of my mom.
Firstly, I really felt bad when i saw my mother's photo was broken and when I am not at home because I only have the last image of the memories.
Moreover, this picture was so touch to my heart because last year my mother passed
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it contains only 71 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While you mention the broken item (a photo of your mother) and touch upon its importance, the letter is incomplete. You have not fully explained why it is important, nor have you provided any instructions or requests for your friend regarding the situation. To improve, you must ensure all three bullet points are developed with sufficient detail and reach the required length to fully satisfy the task instructions.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter lacks a clear structure and logical progression. While you use basic transition words like 'Firstly' and 'Moreover', the ideas are not fully developed, and the text ends abruptly mid-sentence. Paragraphing is insufficient, which hinders the flow of the letter. To achieve a higher score, you should organize your response into clear paragraphs: one for the introduction and description, one for the significance of the item, and a final paragraph for your request and closing. Using a wider variety of cohesive devices will also help connect your ideas more naturally.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. Phrases such as 'felt bad' and 'touch to my heart' are imprecise and do not effectively convey the emotional weight of the situation. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'broken piece of a photo', which is slightly unnatural. To improve, try to use more descriptive adjectives and precise nouns to explain the value of the item. Expanding your vocabulary to include more specific emotional descriptors and formal requests will significantly enhance the quality of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains several grammatical errors that affect clarity. For example, 'when i saw my mother's photo was broken and when I am not at home' is syntactically confusing. There are also issues with verb tense consistency and sentence structure, such as the incomplete sentence at the end. The range of grammatical structures is very limited, relying mostly on simple sentences. To improve, focus on using a mix of complex sentence structures and ensure that your verb tenses are consistent throughout the letter. Proofreading for basic errors like capitalization and sentence completion is also essential.
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