Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-06

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)

Hi,

i hope you are doing well,

I am a writing this letter about the problem which i am facing from some time this a the leakage in the pipe with connected with my bathtub .

One month ago , after taking a bath i saw the bathtub pipe was leaking slowing that time it was not major problem for me but it become a headache for me it also create a sound which annoying me in the night . I also tried glue to fix this problem but it did not work as well as it is wastage of water which is not good due to this my electricity had been increasing which is not in my budget.

Therefore, i just wan t to inform you about this and request u to visit my flat to see the problem and fix it as soon is possible .

Your regards

gagandeep Singh

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 purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the connection between a leaking bathtub pipe and increased electricity bills is unclear and confusing, which detracts from the professional tone required for a formal letter to a building manager. To improve, ensure your explanations are logical and directly relevant to the issue at hand. The tone is also slightly informal for a formal request.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into a logical sequence, moving from the introduction to the problem description and finally the request for action. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and sometimes mechanical. There is a lack of transition words to link ideas smoothly between sentences. For example, the transition between describing the leak and mentioning the electricity bill is abrupt. Paragraphing is also insufficient; the entire body of the letter is presented as a single block, which makes it harder to read. Using clear paragraph breaks for each distinct point would significantly improve the structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate to convey the message, but it is quite basic and repetitive. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'facing from some time' and 'it become a headache'. Additionally, there are errors in word choice, such as using 'wastage' as a noun in a way that sounds unnatural here. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise collocations and a wider range of vocabulary suitable for a formal complaint or request, such as 'persistent issue' instead of 'headache' or 'incurring additional costs' instead of 'electricity had been increasing'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede the flow of reading. Issues include incorrect verb tenses ('I am a writing'), missing articles ('the leakage in the pipe with connected'), and punctuation errors, such as inconsistent spacing before commas and periods. The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage. Proofreading for basic punctuation and capitalization errors would also help, as the current lack of attention to these details makes the writing appear careless.

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

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