Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-18

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 Building Manager,

I would like to inform you that, I'm phasing the water licking problem in my bathroom sink from pat few day's. Although, i had try some trick like tightening the faucet as well as changing the wiser, but nothing happens.

So, it's my humble request to send the good plumber who can fix this problem as soon as possible, because the water the not draining properly and chocking under the sink which can damage the others things too.

Please try to come and visit the apartment whenever you're free to come. Just let me know couple of hours before your visit, since I was not available by that time, so some else assist you with this problem and explain you everything, and It will be easy for you to tell the exact problem to you technician.

Yours Sincerely,

Khush R Patel.

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 under the 150-word minimum, which impacts the overall development of the ideas. While the purpose is clear, the brevity limits the depth of the explanation. To improve, ensure you expand on the details of the problem and provide a more formal, structured request for the visit to meet the length requirement and fully develop the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of the request. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. For example, the transition 'So, it's my humble request' is slightly awkward in a formal context. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the pronoun usage makes the sentence structure confusing. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring clear pronoun references would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are several spelling and word-choice errors that detract from the professional tone. Examples include 'phasing' instead of 'facing', 'licking' instead of 'leaking', 'wiser' instead of 'washer', and 'chocking' instead of 'clogging'. These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise terminology related to home maintenance and ensure accurate spelling of common technical terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Issues include incorrect verb tenses ('i had try'), subject-verb agreement ('the water the not draining'), and punctuation errors (unnecessary commas). These errors occasionally impede the clarity of the message. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like tense consistency and article usage.

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

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