Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-31

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 Sir,

Subject:Informating the lights problem in my washroom

Hello David,I hope you are doing well.I live in the namaste building in a ground floor for 6months.I had some issues in my washroom since yesterday.I would like to inform you about this problem.I am having problem using washroom without lights.Its been 2 days I am unbale to use my washroom.

Can you please come and see my lights. Are you able to bring a electrican to fix problem today.I am at home I have dayoff from my job.If you could not come send today I am available in weekdays from 8 am in the morning to 3pm in the evening.And, also I think there is some problem on my sitting room lights as well.Sometimes it just turned off itself. So, I am having trouble using washroom at night time .I hope you will come to see the lights and will fix as soon as possible.

Thank you

Isha Baral

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three requested points: it describes the washroom lights failing, asks the manager to arrange an electrician, and invites a visit to inspect the problem. The added concern about the sitting-room lights is relevant, and the writer explains the practical impact of being unable to use the washroom at night. The request is clear, but some details are less fully developed: for example, it is not clear whether the washroom lights are completely out or intermittent, and the proposed repair is phrased as a question rather than a specific request. To strengthen the response, state the fault precisely and make the requested action and preferred visit time more direct. The content is relevant and generally clear, with some room for fuller development.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The information follows a broadly sensible order: the writer introduces the problem, asks for an inspection and repair, then mentions another lighting issue and closes politely. This gives the letter an overall coherent arrangement. However, the ideas are crowded together in one paragraph, and transitions such as “And, also” and “So” feel mechanical or unclear. The opening also shifts from “Dear Sir” to “Hello David,” which makes the recipient reference inconsistent. Use separate paragraphs for the problem, the requested action and availability, and the additional issue; connect them with simple, accurate transitions. Clearer sentence boundaries and consistent addressing would make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main problem and request, using relevant terms such as “washroom,” “lights,” “electrician,” and “fix.” However, the range is limited and several noticeable word-choice, spelling, or collocation errors reduce naturalness: “Informating” is not the appropriate noun, “unbale” is misspelled, and “bring a electrican” is awkward. Repetition of “problem,” “lights,” and “come” also limits flexibility. Choose more precise phrases such as “the bathroom lighting has stopped working” and “arrange for an electrician to repair it.” Proofreading spelling and using more varied, natural expressions would improve clarity and control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The letter includes mostly simple sentences and some attempts at more complex forms, such as “If you could not come…” and “If you could not come send today…”. Meaning is generally recoverable, but some grammatical errors and punctuation problems remain. For example, “I live in the namaste building in a ground floor for 6months” has problems with articles, prepositions, and the time expression; “Its been 2 days I am unable to use my washroom” needs a clearer tense structure. Several sentences run together without spaces after full stops, and the conditional request is difficult to parse. Practise accurate present-perfect forms and conditional sentences, and separate each sentence with correct punctuation.

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.