Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-07

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 Mr. Brown,

I hope you have been doing well lately. The purpose of writing this letter is to express my concern regarding the problem in the bathrooms of the apartments.

As far as the problem is concerned, the tab of my bathroom has been leaking for last couples of weeks. Although I tried to get it get it fixed by plumber, the issue remained unchanged.

To solve the problem, my plumber has suggested to change the tab. Since, not only does it increase the electricity bill but also it wastes large quantity of water.

It would be appreciated if you could visit to the apartment as see the tap condition of tab that is the one of the old taps in my apartment , and it needs to be fixed as soon as possible. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,

ABC

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter covers all three bullet points: describing the problem, suggesting a solution, and requesting a visit. However, the response is 145 words, which is below the 150-word minimum requirement. This under-length impacts the development of ideas. For instance, the explanation of why the tap needs changing is slightly underdeveloped. While the tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a building manager, the failure to meet the minimum word count necessitates a penalty in this criterion. To improve, ensure you expand on your points, perhaps by providing more context about the inconvenience caused by the leak.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a logical structure with a clear opening and closing. Paragraphing is used, though the paragraphs are quite short. Cohesive devices are present (e.g., 'Although', 'Since', 'It would be appreciated'), but some transitions feel slightly mechanical or forced. The flow of ideas is generally easy to follow, but the lack of length makes the overall progression feel somewhat abrupt. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, well-developed focus to enhance the overall flow of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward word choice, such as 'tab' instead of 'tap' and 'see the tap condition of tab'. The phrase 'last couples of weeks' is also slightly unnatural. While the meaning is clear, the range of vocabulary is limited, and the repetition of basic terms hinders the overall quality. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise terminology related to home maintenance and avoid repeating the same words in close proximity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'I hope you have been doing well lately' (tense usage), 'get it get it fixed' (repetition/error), and 'visit to the apartment as see the tap condition'. There are also issues with article usage and prepositions. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors suggests a need for more careful proofreading and a better grasp of sentence construction. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct article usage will help improve your score.

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

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