Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-05

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 5.5)

Dear David,

As you know this is Pam am living in your apartment which is situated at main and wiliam side i want to discuss about a problem which am faing from last month . Here is a leak sink in my apartment which creates so many problems while dishwashing , i had to wait long time for dishwashing .

I would like to say can you call plumber to solve this problem oe he can change it with now one it would be helpfull for me because of this am getting late everyday for my work let me now if you call any plumber to tackle this problem.

The next weekend is my off can you visit at my apartment for look it my room is on 3rd flood and unit is 202. Please do not forget about this situation if you need any information please context me .

Your Thankful

Babal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task: describing the problem, suggesting a solution, and requesting a visit. The tone is generally appropriate for a letter to a building manager. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, while you mention the sink is leaking, providing more specific details about the severity of the leak or the damage it is causing would have made the letter more persuasive. Additionally, the request for a visit is clear, but the letter lacks a formal closing, which is a standard requirement for this type of correspondence. Overall, the purpose of the letter is clear, and the reader understands the situation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your points. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and sometimes mechanical. For example, you rely heavily on simple sentence structures and lack transition words to connect your ideas smoothly (e.g., using 'because of this' or 'therefore' to link the leak to your work delays). The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'for look it', which disrupts the flow. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words like 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'in addition' to create a more natural progression between your sentences and paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the basic message, but it is quite repetitive and lacks precision. You use 'dishwashing' twice in the same sentence and 'problem' multiple times throughout the text. There are also some errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'faing' (facing), 'leak sink' (leaking sink), 'now one' (new one), and 'context me' (contact me). These errors do not completely impede communication, but they do highlight a need for a broader range of vocabulary and better attention to spelling and collocations. Expanding your vocabulary related to home maintenance would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The letter consists mostly of simple sentences with frequent grammatical errors. There are issues with subject-verb agreement, missing articles, and incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'am living' instead of 'I am living', 'can you call plumber' instead of 'could you call a plumber', and 'let me now' instead of 'let me know'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several run-on sentences and missing commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic structures prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence construction and proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy will significantly improve your score.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.