Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-10

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,

I hope this letter finds you well.

As you may know , I am one of your tenants from Bayshore property , apartment number -107 and I have been living here more than 3 years during these years my experience was amazing and i never have any issues with your management.

However, In my apartment heating system gives me rally hard time specially when we are in middle of the month of January where the cold temperature goes up to -50 degree and winds speed around 20 kph which makes the winter even worst.

I think you should have to come first for solving this problem as fast as you can , i am free after 4.00pm everyday in the evenings , so if you want to come then come around this time.

I hope you will understand my situation and solve this problem.

Yours sincerely,

Don

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points: describing the problem, suggesting a solution, and requesting a visit. However, the response is slightly under the 150-word minimum, which impacts the overall score. While the tone is generally appropriate for a letter to a manager, the development of ideas is somewhat brief. For instance, the request for a visit could have been phrased more professionally to better suit the formal context. To improve, ensure you expand on your points slightly more to meet the length requirement and provide a more polished, formal tone throughout the correspondence.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of the message. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat limited and occasionally mechanical. For example, the transition 'However, In my apartment' is slightly awkward due to punctuation and phrasing. The flow between the introduction and the body paragraph could be smoother. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and phrases (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in light of this') to connect your ideas more naturally and improve the overall readability of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'gives me rally hard time' (should be 'a really hard time') and 'worst' instead of 'worse'. The phrasing 'goes up to -50 degree' is also slightly unnatural. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise and varied vocabulary. Instead of simple descriptors like 'amazing' or 'hard time', try using more specific terms that convey the severity of the situation and your professional relationship with the building manager.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede the flow. Notable issues include missing articles ('in middle of the month'), subject-verb agreement errors ('heating system gives me'), and awkward phrasing ('you should have to come first for solving'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma placement and capitalization after periods. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, specifically regarding articles, verb tenses, and sentence boundaries, which will help make your writing appear more controlled and professional.

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

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