Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-11-04

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)

Dear Chris,

I hope that you are well? as you're coming tomorrow morning by the train and surely i'm glad that you are going to stay with me. Unfortunately, i won't be there to welcome you because that time i'm going to be at my work. Don't panic i prepared everything needed, and i am writing today to show you how to get to our home.

To begin, as i've said before i made some arrangements for you to have keys and get into the house safely. first, when you arrive to the neighbourhood, you will meet Simon my neighbor, he is a trustworthy person, he will lead you to the house where you are going to find in front of it two vases; dig into the one which will be on your left, there you are going to find the treasure! the keys, open the door and enter to your new house.

Before of that, i forgot to describe how you can reach the house.First, you will take the train in line F12 which it will lead you directly to the centre where you will take a taxi and give him the address that i am going to write it for you at the bottom of the letter.Don't be afraid my fellow! it is easy to be there.

Finally, at home put your luggage in your room that i have already prepared for you, it is on the right after the bathroom. I will join at five in the evening.After you have a good rest. We can at night, go out and have dinner at a new restaurant newly open in my area. It is an italian one, we'll have a quality time together! waiting for your arrival impatiently my friend.

yours sincerely,

Jackie.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three required points: you explain that the keys are hidden in a vase, give a route involving the F12 train and a taxi, and say you will arrive at five and suggest dinner together. The practical details make the letter relevant and generally clear. However, some parts are less fully explained than others. For example, the directions rely on meeting Simon in the neighbourhood without explaining how Chris should find him, and the route from the station is confusing because it is unclear whether the F12 train is the train Chris arrives on or a further journey. Clarify these steps and develop the evening plan slightly. The response also includes eight words copied from the task prompt, which are not counted toward the required total.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter has a recognisable sequence: an opening, arrangements for the keys, travel directions, and plans for the evening. Paragraphing helps separate these topics, and signposts such as “To begin” and “Finally” guide the reader. However, progression is sometimes disrupted: “Before of that, i forgot to describe” introduces the directions after the key instructions, and the route itself is difficult to follow. Some linking phrases feel mechanical or do not express the relationship clearly, while the long key paragraph combines several steps in one sentence. Use a clearer order—station to house, entry arrangements, then evening plans—and divide instructions into shorter, connected sentences with precise references.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the arrangements and maintain a friendly tone, with relevant expressions such as “trustworthy person,” “luggage,” and “quality time together.” There are also attempts at more vivid language, including “find the treasure,” though this is less suitable for clear practical instructions. Several word choices and collocations are unnatural or imprecise, such as “at my work,” “take the train in line F12,” “give him the address,” and “a restaurant newly open.” The repeated use of “house” and “going to” also limits flexibility. Choose more natural phrases for travel and accommodation, and prioritise precise, conventional wording over playful expressions when explaining how to enter the home.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex forms, including subordinate clauses with “because” and “when,” and the main message remains understandable. However, some errors in sentence structure, verb forms, articles, and punctuation reduce accuracy. For example, “I hope that you are well?” should be a statement, while “when you arrive to the neighbourhood” uses an incorrect preposition. In “the train in line F12 which it will lead you,” the relative clause is incorrectly formed, and “We can at night, go out” has awkward word order and punctuation. Capitalisation is also inconsistent, particularly with “i” and “first.” Review sentence boundaries and clause construction, and proofread for articles, prepositions, and consistent capital letters.

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

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