Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-26
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
A family member is coming to stay with you. He/she will be arriving by train in the morning, but you won’t be home until the evening.
explain arrangements you have made for them to have keys and get into the house
tell your relative how to get from the train station to your house
say when you will be home and suggest what you could do together that evening
Student answer (Band 5.0)
Dear Alex,
I hope this letter finds you in good health.I know that you are arriving by the train in the morning but i will not be able to pick you up as I am quite busy in the office work and I won’t be home until evening.And I tried to get a leave but, they refused.Well, you don’t need to worry about anything.I have made all the necessary arrangements
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is only 70 words long. Consequently, the task is incomplete. While the opening addresses the arrival, the response fails to cover the key requirements: explaining how to get the keys, providing directions from the station, and suggesting evening activities. Because the majority of the bullet points are not addressed and the length is significantly under the requirement, the response is severely underdeveloped.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The text is too short to demonstrate a clear logical progression or effective paragraphing. While there is a basic attempt at a greeting, the lack of development makes it difficult to assess the use of cohesive devices. The sentences are simple and lack the necessary linking words to connect ideas into a coherent whole. The structure is fragmented, which hinders the overall flow of the letter.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'quite busy' and 'necessary arrangements' are functional but limited in range. There is no attempt to use less common or more sophisticated vocabulary that would be expected in a personal letter of this nature. The lexical range is insufficient to demonstrate the flexibility required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The grammar is generally understandable, but there are several errors in punctuation and mechanics. For example, there is a missing space after the period in 'health.I', and the pronoun 'i' is not capitalized. The sentence structures are simple, and there is no evidence of complex sentence forms. While the errors do not completely impede communication, the lack of range and the presence of basic mechanical errors limit the score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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