Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-06

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 Manager,

I am writing to inform you that the kitchen plumbing replacement done last week has stopped functioning. The pipes inside the house is working perfectly but the ones outside that suppose to drain water down to the drainage channels had not draining properly.

Certainly, I believe the blockage is from the toilet pipe which was channeled to the kitchen drainage line. I would be off work on Friday afternoon, so if you could make it to visit my apartment on that Friday to see the problem, I would be glad.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 92 words. While all three bullet points are addressed—describing the problem, suggesting a solution, and requesting a visit—the development is insufficient. The ideas are presented in a very brief manner, lacking the necessary detail and elaboration expected in a formal letter. To improve, you must expand on the impact of the plumbing issue and provide more context or polite framing for your request to ensure the letter is of an appropriate length and tone.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into two short paragraphs, which is a logical structure for this task. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat abrupt due to the brevity of the text. Cohesive devices are minimal; for example, the transition between the description of the problem and the proposed solution could be smoother. The use of linking words is limited, which makes the writing feel a bit disjointed. To achieve a higher band, ensure you use a wider range of cohesive devices to connect your sentences and ideas more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is functional but basic. You successfully use terms like 'plumbing replacement,' 'drainage channels,' and 'blockage,' which are relevant to the topic. However, there is a lack of variety and precision. Phrases like 'stopped functioning' and 'working perfectly' are acceptable but common. To improve, try to incorporate more specific vocabulary related to maintenance and repair, and ensure your word choices are consistently accurate. The current range is just adequate to convey the message but does not demonstrate the flexibility required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are several grammatical errors that impact the clarity of the writing. For instance, 'The pipes... is working' contains a subject-verb agreement error, and 'had not draining' is incorrect tense usage. Additionally, 'the ones outside that suppose to drain' is missing the auxiliary verb 'are.' While you attempt some complex sentence structures, the frequent errors in basic grammar and verb forms hinder the overall accuracy. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct tense formation will significantly improve your score in this criterion.

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

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