Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-31

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 Neighbor,

I am writing to explain the problem regarding play music late at night. This may affect our studies and sleeping pattern as well.

The sound was very loud during the night time. We cannot concentrate our studies. As a result, our results and ranks could be reduced. Another problem is, my parents cannot take proper rest after long time work schedules. They may have severe headache due to insufficient sleeping pattern. As a result , they may feel very tried and work concentration will be reduced. These things affect our day today life.

I suggest to reduce your music volume during nighttime. If not you can play music after 10 pm.

It will help our studies and sleeping pattern also. It is very convenient for our family.

Than you for your consideration regarding this situation. I am looking forward your prompt response.

Yours Sincerely,

Kavi.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all three bullet points: the problem is identified, the impact on studies and sleep is explained, and a request for action is made. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which negatively impacts the score. The ideas are relevant but somewhat repetitive, particularly regarding the impact on sleep. To improve, you should expand on the specific nature of the music or the upcoming exams to provide more depth and ensure you meet the length requirement. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter to a neighbor, though it could be slightly more polite.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a standard structure with an opening, body paragraphs, and a closing. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited; for example, 'As a result' is used twice in the same paragraph, which makes the writing feel repetitive. Paragraphing is present, but the transitions between the problem and the requested action could be smoother. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words such as 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'in addition' to connect your sentences more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on basic phrases like 'very loud' and 'very tried' (likely a typo for 'tired'). There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'take proper rest' and 'insufficient sleeping pattern'. While the meaning is clear, the range of vocabulary is limited, and there are minor errors in word choice that prevent a higher score. Expanding your range to include more sophisticated synonyms would help demonstrate a better command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'regarding play music' (should be 'regarding the music'), 'concentrate our studies' (should be 'concentrate on our studies'), and 'I am looking forward your prompt response' (missing 'to'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are spacing issues around commas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to affect the overall accuracy of the writing.

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

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