Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-03

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have a problem in your apartment that needs repairs.

Write a letter to the building manager. In your letter
• describe the problem.
• say what you think should be done about it.
• ask the building manager to visit your apartment to see the problem.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear _________,

Student answer (Band 5.0)

Dear Mr. Smith,

Hope you are doing well. My name is Abhijeet, living in apartment #265 of the building. I am writing this letter to raise concern regarding some maintenance work needed in the apartment.

The staple problem is the blockage in the kitchen sink. The slow drainage is causing trouble to work in the kitchen. Apart from this, the lighting in the living room is dim. The poor lighting system is making it difficult for me to focus on books and computer while studying.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is only 85 words long. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While you identified the problems (sink blockage and lighting), you failed to suggest what should be done about them and did not include the required request for the manager to visit the apartment. The letter is incomplete and lacks the necessary development to satisfy the task instructions. To improve, ensure you cover all three bullet points in the prompt and expand on your ideas to meet the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is very short, which limits the ability to demonstrate a range of cohesive devices. There is a basic logical flow from the introduction to the description of the problems. However, because the letter is unfinished, there is no concluding paragraph or formal sign-off, which is essential for a letter format. The paragraphing is also insufficient due to the brevity of the text. To improve, use more linking words such as 'furthermore', 'consequently', or 'in addition' to connect your ideas and ensure you follow the standard structure of a formal letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is functional but quite basic. Phrases like 'staple problem' are used incorrectly in this context; 'main issue' or 'primary concern' would be more appropriate. The range of vocabulary is limited, which is partly due to the short length of the response. To achieve a higher band score, try to incorporate more precise and varied vocabulary related to maintenance and housing, such as 'plumbing issues', 'inadequate illumination', or 'urgent repair'. Avoid repetitive sentence structures and try to use more sophisticated collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The grammar is generally understandable, but there are some awkward phrasings. For example, 'living in apartment #265 of the building' is slightly unnatural; 'who lives in apartment #265' would be better. The sentence 'The slow drainage is causing trouble to work in the kitchen' is grammatically weak; 'making it difficult to use the kitchen' would be more accurate. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, which prevents a higher score. Focus on using a mix of simple and complex sentences, and ensure your verb tenses and prepositions are used correctly.

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

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