Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-09

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 Priya,

How have you been? I hope you are doing well and find a good time in my house. I am writing to tell you about a broken possession. Moreover, when you were staying in my apartment when I was on my trip.

Firstly, you take care of my house very well

however, when I came home from a long trip I was so tired but when I went to the washroom then I saw that, the mirror was broken. In addition, mirror was a really important for me due to it was gifted by someone special for me.

Furthermore, mirror frame was damaged so, few days prior I just fixed that damage.

don't worry about this I'm just letting you know about this. However, I have to give some deposit to the landlord but I will manage.

Anyway, I hope you will never do this mistake again. I'm waiting for your response.

Your friend,

keya

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You address the situation and identify the broken item as the bathroom mirror, explaining that it was a gift from someone special. You also mention the damage to its frame and the deposit, so the reader can understand some consequences. However, the request about what Priya should do is not clear: “I will manage” suggests you will handle the cost yourself, while “I hope you will never do this mistake again” sounds like a reprimand rather than a specific request. The mirror’s personal importance is only briefly explained, and the letter does not clearly say whether you want an apology, payment, or help with repairs. State your preferred action directly and develop why the gift matters to you.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The letter has a recognisable sequence: greeting, explanation of the damage, details about the mirror, and a closing. Paragraph breaks help separate these stages. However, progression is weakened by repeated or awkward linking words, including “Moreover,” “In addition,” “Furthermore,” and “However,” which do not always show the relationship between ideas accurately. The opening sentence about staying in the house is difficult to follow, and “when you were staying … when I was on my trip” repeats the same time reference. The paragraph about the frame, deposit, and your friend’s responsibility also shifts between points without a clear connection. Use fewer connectors and organise the letter around the damage, its significance, and your request.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough basic vocabulary to communicate the main situation, including “mirror,” “broken,” “gifted,” “frame,” and “deposit.” The tone is generally recognisable as a personal letter. However, the range is limited, and several expressions are unnatural or imprecise, such as “find a good time in my house,” “a broken possession,” and “do this mistake again.” These choices can make the intended meaning less clear or the tone harsher than intended. Aim for more natural phrases that describe the damage and explain its personal value, such as “the mirror’s frame was cracked” or “it has sentimental value.” More precise wording would also help you make your request politely and clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentence forms, and the reader can generally follow the main events. However, complex sentences are often faulty, as in “I am writing to tell you about a broken possession. Moreover, when you were staying in my apartment when I was on my trip,” where the second part is incomplete and the time clause is repeated. There are also recurring problems with articles and sentence construction: “the mirror was a really important for me” and “when I went to the washroom then I saw that, the mirror was broken.” Punctuation and capitalisation are inconsistent, particularly at the start of “don't worry.” Practise building complete sentences with one clear main clause, then check articles, verb forms, and punctuation.

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