Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-09-11
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 5.5)
Hello Brother,
I Hope you are doing well. I know you are coming to visit my city and staying with me for some time. i am so happy that you final made it possible. But i am writing this to inform you that i have to go to the office tomorrow to finish something very important. So the time you will be arrive i could not be there to receive. But i already told to my friend , he is going to pick you up and drop you home. Keys will be under the door mate. When i will come, I planed so many places to visit that i am so sure that you are going to love. I know to tolled me two weeks ago. Sorry for this.
i hope you understand.
Your brother Gurjit
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses all three bullet points, but the development is insufficient. You mention the keys, the directions (via a friend), and the evening plans, but the details are very brief. Crucially, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which significantly impacts the score as the task requirements are not fully met. To improve, you should expand on the instructions for the keys (e.g., where exactly they are hidden) and provide more specific details about the evening activities to demonstrate a fuller development of ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter is organized into short paragraphs, but the flow is disjointed. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas smoothly. For example, the transition between the office situation and the friend picking him up is abrupt. The use of referencing is also weak; phrases like 'When i will come' are unclear in context. To improve, use linking words such as 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in addition' to connect your sentences and ensure the progression of ideas is logical and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. You rely on simple verbs like 'go,' 'come,' and 'tell.' There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'final made it possible' (should be 'finally') and 'tolled me' (should be 'told me'). To reach a higher band, you need to use a wider range of vocabulary appropriate for a letter to a family member, such as 'accommodate,' 'arrangements,' or 'itinerary.' Focus on using more precise words to convey your meaning clearly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede readability. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('the time you will be arrive'), tense errors ('I planed'), and missing articles or prepositions. Sentence structures are mostly simple, with very few attempts at complex sentences. To improve, pay close attention to verb tenses and ensure that your sentences are complete. Practicing the use of relative clauses and conditional sentences will help you demonstrate a wider grammatical range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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