Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-21

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 building manager,

I would like to talk about a problem which i have been faced with the air conditioner in my apartment that needs to be repaired.

For last few days, the air conditioner has not been doing work properly. It does not cool the room whether i switch it on long hours. It is very difficult for me and my family to live in. It also effects on my studies.

I would like to send the technician to repair it as soon as possible. If it cannot repaired or installed new one. I hope you understand my problem and make solution on it.

I would also request you that to visit in apartment to see the problem. Please tell me about when you will arrival so i will manage my time. Thank you for you understanding and i look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Noor

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three requested points: you identify the air conditioner as the problem, ask for a technician to repair or replace it, and invite the manager to visit. The effects on your family and studies help explain why the repair matters. However, the proposed solution is unclear in “If it cannot repaired or installed new one,” and the request for a visit would be stronger with a clearer suggested time or a direct question about availability. The response is also two words below the required minimum, so add a little relevant detail—for example, when the fault began or whether you have already tried basic checks—to develop the situation more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter follows a sensible order: it introduces the fault, explains its impact, requests a repair, and then asks for a visit. Separate paragraphs make the main stages easy to identify, and phrases such as “For last few days” and “I would also request” signal progression. Some connections are less clear or mechanical, particularly “If it cannot repaired or installed new one,” which makes the repair-or-replacement option difficult to follow. The final request also combines several ideas in one stretch. Use clearer links between the preferred repair and the alternative replacement, and separate the visit request from the question about scheduling to make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic vocabulary to communicate the issue, including “air conditioner,” “technician,” “repair,” and “cool the room.” The wording is generally understandable, but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural and limit precision: “has not been doing work properly,” “effects on my studies,” and “make solution on it.” “Installed new one” also does not express the replacement idea naturally. Aim for common, precise collocations such as “has not been working properly,” “affects my studies,” and “arrange a repair.” Check spelling and word forms as well: “effects” should be “affects” in this context. A broader set of practical repair-related phrases would make the letter more fluent and professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You communicate the main message using a mix of short statements and longer sentences, and the overall meaning remains clear. However, some sentence structures and verb forms are faulty, as in “a problem which i have been faced with the air conditioner” and “It does not cool the room whether i switch it on long hours.” The conditional sentence “If it cannot repaired or installed new one” is also incomplete and lacks the necessary verb forms and articles. There are additional issues with question structure and tense in “when you will arrival so i will manage my time.” Practise forming clear clauses with accurate auxiliaries and infinitives, and use capital letters for “I.” These corrections would improve control while preserving your direct style.

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

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