Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-04

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 Building Manager

I am writing to information you about a problem in my apartment that requires urgent repair. The problem of my apartment was bathroom ceiling which has recently leaking whenever it rains. The leaking ceiling get water come to my floor. My all room get water my all things. The problem could become worse and the cause damage to the walls and furniture.

I believe the ceiling and the source of the leak should be repaired as soon as possible. When you are coming their then we repare all walls and furniture in my floor. When ceiling water come ang fall my floor then water gone by other apartment. This is also main reason in my opinion.

I could respect to you manager. You come and repaired all the problem. And soon possible in this problem.

I look forward to hearing from.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: describing the problem, suggesting a solution, and requesting a visit. However, the response is 144 words, which is below the 150-word minimum requirement. This negatively impacts the task achievement score. Furthermore, while the ideas are present, they are not fully developed; the explanation of the leak is repetitive and lacks clarity, particularly in the second paragraph where the description of the water flow is confusing. To improve, ensure you meet the word count and provide more precise, logical explanations for the issues described.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is divided into paragraphs, which helps the overall structure. However, the progression of ideas is often disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes inaccurate, such as the awkward transition 'When ceiling water come ang fall my floor then water gone by other apartment.' Referencing is also unclear at times, making it difficult for the reader to follow the logic of the complaint. To improve, use a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'as a result') and ensure that each sentence flows logically from the previous one.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive, relying on simple terms like 'problem', 'water', and 'floor'. There are several instances of incorrect word choice or word formation, such as 'information' instead of 'inform' and 'repare' instead of 'repair'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to express the situation with the necessary precision or professional tone required for a formal letter to a building manager. To improve, focus on learning topic-specific collocations related to property maintenance and housing issues.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede communication. Examples include 'The problem of my apartment was bathroom ceiling which has recently leaking' (incorrect verb tense and structure) and 'I could respect to you manager' (incorrect phrasing). The sentence structures are mostly simple, and attempts at more complex sentences are often faulty. There is a lack of control over basic grammar, including subject-verb agreement and preposition usage. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common tense errors.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.