Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-11

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 Mr. James,

I would like to discuss an issue with some cracks in the walls alongside the electricity in my apartment that might need your inspection in order to be repaired. The light in the bedroom keeps flickering for an unknown reason, even after replacing the lamp the issue wasn't fixed, and the light flickering is really irritating and it disturbs my sleeping. In addition, there are some cracks in the living room walls which need to be repaired. I would like your visit to inspect the issues and discuss the issues and solutions in order for the problems to be fixed, thank you.

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 severely limits the development of the ideas. The description of the issues is brief, and the request for a visit lacks the necessary formal tone and detail expected in a professional letter. Because the response is 45 words short, it fails to meet the basic length requirement, which negatively impacts the overall task achievement score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is very short, consisting of only one paragraph. While the ideas are presented in a logical order, the lack of paragraphing makes the text feel like a single block of information rather than a structured letter. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link the sentences smoothly; for example, the transition between the electrical issue and the wall cracks is abrupt. To improve, you should use clear paragraph breaks for the introduction, the body of the complaint, and the closing request, while incorporating more varied linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is functional but basic. You rely on simple descriptors like 'irritating' and 'disturbs'. While the meaning is clear, there is little attempt to use more precise or formal vocabulary suitable for a letter to a building manager. Phrases like 'discuss the issues and discuss the issues' show repetition and a lack of lexical variety. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more specific terminology related to property maintenance and formal requests, and avoid repeating the same words in close proximity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The grammar is generally understandable, but the sentence structures are repetitive and lack complexity. There are some awkward phrasings, such as 'alongside the electricity in my apartment', which is not a natural collocation. You also have a run-on sentence structure in the final request. While there are no major errors that completely impede communication, the lack of complex grammatical structures (such as conditional sentences or passive voice, which are useful for formal complaints) limits the score. Focus on varying your sentence length and using more formal structures.

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

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