Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-28

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 am writing this letter because of the recent issue that my apartment has .I wanna draw your attention that apartment has air conditioning problem as summer have arrived it has become a major issue for my family.I think because of old air conditioning system it stops working .It should be changed immediate with a new system .Therefore, everything will be working properly.Recently my friends has started working in a

Hvac company i can give his contact number to you for a good deal .Maybe on weekend you can pay a visit to see what is wrong with air conditioner system .If you have knowledge about Hvac system maybe you should be able to repair it as well

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the problem is described, a solution is proposed, and a request for a visit is made. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum, which limits the development of ideas. The tone is somewhat informal and inconsistent, lacking the professional register expected in a formal letter to a building manager. Because the length requirement was not met, the development of the points is insufficient, leading to a lower score in this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter lacks clear paragraphing, which is essential for a formal letter. While there is a basic logical progression from the problem to the request, the flow is hindered by a lack of cohesive devices. Sentences are often joined abruptly or lack appropriate transitions, such as in the transition from the air conditioning issue to the suggestion about the friend's company. The use of referencing is also somewhat mechanical, making the overall structure feel disjointed.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'air conditioning problem' and 'working properly' are basic. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'changed immediate' (should be 'changed immediately') and 'pay a visit' (which is slightly informal for this context). The student attempts to use technical terms like 'Hvac', but the overall range is insufficient to convey a professional tone or demonstrate a wide variety of vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, including missing articles ('the' apartment, 'a' Hvac company), incorrect verb forms ('my friends has started'), and punctuation errors (missing spaces after periods). The sentence 'If you have knowledge about Hvac system maybe you should be able to repair it as well' is awkward and grammatically imprecise. The lack of complex structures and the frequency of errors significantly impact the clarity of the message.

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

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