Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-05

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 5.0)

Dear Raman,

Hope you're fine,

I I'm writing to tell you that you broke my precious thing which was important for me, you broke my Cup which was given by my mother and you know that i love my mother from bottom of my heart. Therefore, it's really hurts me when i return home and saw my favourite cup is damaged.

Moreover, now i can't do anything and my mother will be here any time and i don't know what to say, so you can do one thing, can you please buy a new same cup, i will send you a picture of a cup.

Thank you I will see you soon.

best

Fateh Singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: describing the item, explaining its importance, and requesting a solution. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely limits the development of ideas. The tone is somewhat abrupt and lacks the appropriate social nuance expected in a letter to a friend. Because the response is 35 words short of the minimum, it fails to fully develop the points, resulting in a lower score for task achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into three short paragraphs, which helps with basic structure. However, the flow of ideas is quite disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'and' to connect clauses. The transition between the description of the item and the request for a replacement is abrupt. To improve, you should use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus that connects logically to the next.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. For example, the word 'broke' is used three times in the first paragraph. Phrases like 'precious thing' and 'do one thing' are overly simplistic and lack the precision expected at higher levels. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic language. To improve, try to use more descriptive adjectives and precise verbs to convey your feelings and the situation more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with verb tense consistency ('it's really hurts me' instead of 'it really hurt me') and sentence structure. Many sentences are run-on or comma-spliced, such as 'Hope you're fine, I I'm writing...'. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the punctuation is inconsistent. These errors occasionally impede the clarity of the message. Focusing on basic sentence construction and subject-verb agreement will help improve your accuracy.

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

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