Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-07

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

New neighbours have recently moved into the house/flat next door to where you live. You have examinations soon, but your neighbours play music late at night which is affecting your studies and sleep.

• explain what the problem is
• why it is causing you difficulties
• what action you would like them to take

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear Neighbour,

I have come to know that you have recently moved into this apartment.Ihope you are settling well into your new house. As you know my apartment is next door to yours.Ihave noticed that loud music is played in the evening.

I can understand that it's relaxing after long day to amused yourself with some music. Unfortunately, it is causing various difficulties. As I can't focus on my studies. Moreover, my exams are upcoming in the next week. I am unable to sleep well and focus on my studies.

Consequently, i will request you to please slow the volume after 10 p.m. Similarly, you can also use headphones to enjoy it and have a pleasurable time. It will be beneficial for both of us to have a good time in our apartments.

I will appreciate your concern and thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all three bullet points: identifying the problem, explaining the impact on studies, and requesting a solution. However, the letter is slightly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which impacts the overall task completion. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat brief and could have been expanded further to fully develop the situation. For instance, describing the specific type of music or the intensity of the noise would have added more depth. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a neighbour, maintaining a polite and constructive approach throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each serving a specific purpose. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, moving from the introduction to the problem and finally the suggested solution. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Consequently', and 'Similarly' are used to link sentences, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter. To improve, ensure that referencing is consistent and that the flow between sentences is more natural rather than relying on simple connectors.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the message to be communicated clearly. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'amused yourself' instead of 'amuse yourself' or 'entertain yourself'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on common phrases. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise collocations and less common lexical items. For example, instead of 'slow the volume', 'lower the volume' or 'reduce the noise level' would be more natural and accurate in this context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'Ihope' (missing space), 'Ihave' (missing space), 'after long day' (missing article), and 'i will request' (capitalization error). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to affect the overall accuracy. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic punctuation, article usage, and subject-verb agreement. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures while maintaining accuracy will help in achieving a higher band score.

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

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