Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-10-07

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 4.5)

Dear Auntie,

I write this letter to inform you that I can't pick up you in train station on Saturday Morning, because I've been late that day I got an important appointment. Therefore, I give you some instruction how to go in my house and where the key putted.

When you arrived at train station go outside, then the taxi is in the front of the entrance then when you get into taxi tell him the location. My addres, "Ehime ken Imabari shi Onishicho Shimmachi kou 817" after you arrive in the house you can see the floor matt in the entrance and the key is under the matt.

I'm sorry for the inconvient, i gonna make something to take back my responsibility, I going to buy a bee

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

You address the key practical purpose by explaining that you cannot meet your aunt at the station and giving a way to enter the house: “the key is under the matt.” You also provide a taxi option and your address. However, the response is incomplete: it does not say when you will be home, and the evening activity is cut off at “I going to buy a bee,” so the final task point is not communicated. The directions are also too brief to guide someone confidently. The response contains 129 words, below the required 150, which further limits how fully you can explain the arrangements. Develop each bullet point with clear, complete details, especially your arrival time and a specific evening plan.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The letter has a recognisable sequence: you explain why you cannot meet your aunt, give directions and describe where the key is. Paragraph breaks help separate the opening from the travel instructions. However, progression is limited, and several ideas are joined in long, confusing sequences, such as “then the taxi is in the front of the entrance then when you get into taxi.” The final paragraph begins an apology and a promise but ends abruptly, leaving the reader without a complete plan. Use clearer sentence boundaries and organise the letter into a greeting and purpose, access and travel details, then your return time and evening suggestion. Linking words should clarify the steps rather than repeat “then.”

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for the situation, including “train station,” “taxi,” “entrance,” “key” and “appointment,” so the basic message is partly understandable. However, the range is limited, and several word choices or spellings make the letter less clear or natural: “inconvient,” “addres,” and “floor matt.” Phrases such as “go in my house” and “take back my responsibility” do not express the intended meaning naturally. The unfinished phrase “buy a bee” also prevents the reader from understanding your proposed activity or gift. Build a wider set of practical travel and hospitality expressions, and check spelling and collocations so your instructions sound clear and idiomatic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt to combine ideas using clauses and sequencing, for example, “I can't pick up you … because I've been late that day I got an important appointment.” However, sentence structures are often faulty, and verb forms and word order make some meanings difficult to follow. Examples include “When you arrived” for a future event, “where the key putted,” and “I going to buy.” The taxi instruction also runs several clauses together without clear punctuation. Use straightforward, complete sentences first, with accurate future forms such as “When you arrive” and “I will be home at…” Then add a few correctly formed complex sentences. Careful proofreading for tense, articles, and sentence boundaries would improve accuracy.

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

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