Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-26

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 5.0)

Dear mathew stewatt,

I am writing this letter to inform you about leaking from the front window much leaking in last two days. My son, he is walking and running around that area. This is the main reason I write this letter.

please dear fix all the problems immediately. Dont take too much more time for solving this issue. That will be a big problems for coming days. we dont have cloth and paper for wiping that water.

Please come and check the window area as soon as possible. please check below address for reference. I will be at home all time. Just knock 16.

Regards,

caniya jessald

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: describing the problem, suggesting a solution, and requesting a visit. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely limits the development of ideas. The tone is somewhat informal and demanding rather than professional, which is inappropriate for a letter to a building manager. To improve, you should expand on the impact of the leak and use a more formal, polite tone to ensure the request is taken seriously. The brevity of the response prevents it from fully addressing the task requirements in a professional manner.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is divided into short paragraphs, which helps with basic organization. However, the progression of ideas is disjointed. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link sentences, making the writing feel like a list of separate statements rather than a cohesive letter. For example, the transition between describing the leak and the request for a visit is abrupt. To improve, use linking words such as 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'therefore' to connect your thoughts and ensure a smoother flow of information throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'much leaking' and 'big problems' are simplistic and lack the precision expected at higher levels. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'wiping that water', which sounds unnatural in this context. The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little attempt to use more sophisticated or topic-specific language related to property maintenance. To improve, try to incorporate more descriptive and professional vocabulary, such as 'seepage', 'urgent repair', or 'hazardous condition'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The letter contains frequent grammatical errors, including missing articles ('leaking from the front window'), incorrect verb forms ('My son, he is walking'), and punctuation issues. Sentence structures are mostly simple, and there is a lack of complex sentences. The imperative tone ('please dear fix') is grammatically awkward and socially inappropriate for this task. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, ensuring subject-verb agreement and correct article usage. Practice using complex structures, such as conditional sentences (e.g., 'If this is not repaired, it could cause further damage'), to demonstrate a wider grammatical range.

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

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