Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-10

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 Grace,

How're you? I hope you're hale and hearty. I would like to inform you that when I returned from home I observed that valuable possession was broken. I hope you'll explain me everything when you were stayed in the apartment.

Actually, when I entered to the apartment I have seen that the television screen was broken and I was quite shocked because it is very expensive. I was worried that if the apartment owner came their ,it might be create problem for me. As well as I did'nt know how to repair it and with whom I should talk about it. Also, it might be long procedure to repair it .

It is very important for me because this television given by owner to me while I was alone in this apartment and everyday I was using it in my leisure time.I want one favour if you can give me some money so that I can repair it. Next month I'll arrange the money and return you back. I hope you'll understand my situation this time. It is daunting task for me to ask the money from family because recently my father operated his knee.

I'll be wait for your response.

Warm Regards,

Anna

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The letter covers all three required points: you identify the broken television, explain that it was given to you by the apartment owner and used daily, and ask Grace to lend money for repairs. The reason for its importance is relevant, although it could be explained more clearly: the link between the owner giving it to you and why it matters personally is not fully developed. Your request is understandable, but the letter would be more effective if you specified the amount or asked Grace to help arrange the repair, rather than leaving the practical details open. The concern about the owner and your father’s operation adds context, though the latter is only loosely connected to the request.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The message has a clear overall sequence: you introduce the problem, describe what you found, explain the television’s significance, and make a request. Paragraphing helps separate these stages, and expressions such as “Actually” and “Also” guide the reader through the explanation. However, some links are mechanical or unclear. For example, “As well as” does not connect naturally to the preceding sentence, and “I hope you'll explain me everything” appears before you have clearly stated what you want explained. The final details about borrowing money, repayment, and your father’s operation could be connected more smoothly to the request. Use clearer transitions and make each paragraph’s purpose more focused.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the situation and make the letter personal, including “valuable possession,” “quite shocked,” “repair,” and “leisure time.” There are also attempts at less common expressions, such as “hale and hearty” and “daunting task,” but these sound overly formal or unnatural in a friendly letter. Several word choices and collocations are inaccurate, including “inform you that,” “give me some money,” and “return you back.” Spelling and written forms such as “did'nt” also need attention. Aim for natural, precise language suited to a friend: for instance, explain that the television was damaged and ask whether Grace could lend you money toward the repair.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a conditional idea about the apartment owner and a reason introduced with “because.” The main message remains understandable, but errors in verb forms, articles, prepositions, and sentence construction are noticeable. Examples include “I observed that valuable possession was broken,” “I have seen,” and “I hope you'll explain me everything”; these need more accurate structures and tense choices. There are also errors in “when you were stayed” and “it might be create problem.” Review past-tense forms for events that happened while you were away, and practise patterns such as “explain something to someone” and “might create a problem.” More accurate sentence construction would make your request easier to follow.

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

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