Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-08

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 this letter to you regarding a problem with the air conditioner in my apartment. The air conditioner is not working properly for three days. It's very difficult for me to sleep with this problem because the air conditioner is not properly cool in the middle of midnight, I feel very hot and the sleep cycle is getting disturbed. I think it needs service and maybe it will be working properly after getting service.

Furthermore, can you please visit my apartment tomorrow at 5pm in the evening to see the problem so that we can find the solution to resolve this problem as soon as possible.

You're faithfully,

Prabhjeet kaur

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 significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the development of ideas. The description of the problem is somewhat repetitive, and the suggestions lack detail. To improve, you should expand on the impact of the issue and provide more context or formal details to meet the length requirement. Because the response is 36 words short, it fails to fully develop the task requirements, resulting in a lower score for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the message. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore' and 'so that' to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical, and the overall structure is quite brief. To reach a higher band, ensure that your sentences flow more naturally and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your thoughts. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, but the limited length restricts the ability to demonstrate more sophisticated cohesive techniques.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. Phrases like 'not working properly' and 'feel very hot' are functional but lack the precision expected at higher levels. There is little attempt to use less common or more sophisticated vocabulary. To improve, try to incorporate more specific terminology related to maintenance or household issues. For example, instead of 'not working properly,' you could use 'malfunctioning' or 'defective.' The spelling is generally accurate, but the range of vocabulary is limited, which prevents a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'The air conditioner is not working properly for three days' (should be present perfect continuous: 'has not been working') and 'not properly cool' (should be 'not cooling properly'). Additionally, 'middle of midnight' is an unnatural collocation. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to affect the clarity of your writing. Focusing on verb tenses and natural phrasing will help improve your accuracy.

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

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