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)

Dear Sir,

I hope this letter finds you well.

I am Waqas Shaikh, resident of building B5, apartment numbers 801. I have been experiencing some issues in my apartment. I did discuss the issues with you in person but unfortunately you did not take any action that is why I am writing you this. First of all my air conditioning system is not functioning properly. Since the building has centralled air conditioning system which is why I cannot resolve the myself. Secondly, during day time extremely bad smell is coming from the air conditioner it has seemed like someone is cooking food in the room.

As a building manager it is your responsibility to resolve the issues the residents are facing here. Well, I want you to please call some air conditioning technician to check the root cause of this problem and also check the piping system as well.

I am available only on weekends so I request to visit at least once and check yourself what me and my family is facing. I look forward to resolving this matter as soon as possible.

Thank you in advance.

Yours sincerely,

Waqas Shaikh.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points of the task: describing the problem, suggesting a solution, and requesting a visit. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter to a building manager, although it leans slightly towards being demanding rather than polite. The ideas are clear, and the purpose of the letter is immediately evident. To reach a higher band, the writer could provide more specific details about the 'bad smell' or the 'piping system' to further develop the ideas, and ensure the tone remains consistently professional throughout the request.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Paragraphing is used to separate the description of the problem from the request for action. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat basic and occasionally repetitive (e.g., 'First of all', 'Secondly'). The transition between the complaint and the request for a visit could be smoother. While the progression of ideas is clear, the overall flow would benefit from a wider variety of linking words and more sophisticated referencing to connect the sentences more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to convey the necessary information clearly. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'centralled air conditioning' (should be 'central air conditioning') and 'resolve the myself' (should be 'resolve it myself'). The phrase 'it has seemed like' is slightly unnatural in this context. While the range is sufficient to communicate the message, there is limited use of less common or more precise vocabulary that would demonstrate a higher level of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'apartment numbers 801' (should be 'apartment number 801'), 'writing you this' (should be 'writing to you about this'), and 'call some air conditioning technician' (should be 'call an air conditioning technician'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some missing commas that would improve readability. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. The writer should focus on subject-verb agreement and article usage.

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

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