Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-07
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 neetu,
How're you? I wanted to drop a quick message regarding your stay at my apartment.
After three weeks, I came from a business tour, and I found that my bedroom clock was broken, and you didn't try to fix it before leaving the apartment. What's more, the door was not locked, which was seriously careless from your side.
The bedroom clock is the most important thing for me because it was gifted by my grandmother, and you well know that she has passed away. I deeply connected to her through this watch. Also I have some valuable jwellery in my house,
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is only 103 words long. Consequently, the task is not fully addressed, and the final bullet point regarding what you would like the friend to do is completely missing. The ideas presented are underdeveloped, and the letter ends abruptly mid-sentence. To improve, you must ensure all three bullet points are covered in detail and that the response meets the length requirement to allow for full development of your ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The letter lacks a clear structure due to its incomplete nature. While there is a basic attempt at paragraphing, the abrupt ending prevents a logical flow. Cohesive devices are minimal; for example, the transition between the clock and the jewelry is non-existent. To improve, you should use clear linking words such as 'furthermore', 'consequently', or 'in addition' to connect your ideas and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, leading to a natural conclusion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally functional but limited. You use basic terms like 'important thing' and 'broken', which are repetitive. There are also minor errors, such as 'jwellery' (spelling) and 'I deeply connected to her' (should be 'I felt deeply connected'). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to the situation, such as 'sentimental value', 'damaged', or 'negligence', and ensure accurate spelling throughout.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are noticeable errors. For instance, 'I came from a business tour' is unnatural (should be 'I returned from a business trip'), and 'you well know' should be 'you know well'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the incomplete sentence at the end significantly impacts the overall grammatical quality. Focus on using more varied sentence structures and proofreading for common errors in tense and word order.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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