Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-02

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You recently used a company to help you move your furniture and possessions to your new apartment. The removal company has now asked for your feedback about the service they provided.

Write a letter to the removal company. In your letter

• explain what went well on the day you moved house

• praise an employee who was particularly helpful

• mention an aspect of the service that you were not happy with

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to show how satisfied I am with your company. The services you provided is commendable.

I am pleased with your staff, from arriving on time to making sure that all of my possession are handled properly. Every of your works put in their best while moving my properties.

One of your staff did so well, she was all the place, directing, coordinating and ensuring my new apartment was well arranged. I think she should be rewarded for her selfless services to your customers.

I must confess that your company is doing great however I will like you to look into purchasing a bigger vehicle that could carry much than it carried today. The driver have to shuttle more three times before he could finish my items.

Thanks for your consideration.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: it mentions what went well, praises an employee, and identifies a service issue. However, the response is 13 words under the 150-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the task achievement score. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped due to the brevity of the response. To improve, you should expand on the specific details of the move and provide a more thorough explanation of the negative aspect of the service to ensure the word count is met and the ideas are fully explored.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is logically organized into paragraphs, with each paragraph focusing on a specific requirement of the prompt. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from general satisfaction to specific praise and then to a constructive complaint. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat limited and basic. To improve, you should incorporate a wider range of linking words and transition phrases (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in addition to this') to improve the flow between sentences and paragraphs, making the writing feel more sophisticated and cohesive.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the message to be communicated clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'commendable', 'coordinating', and 'selfless services'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'Every of your works' (should be 'every one of your staff') and 'much than it carried' (should be 'more than'). To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and a wider variety of vocabulary related to moving services, while ensuring that word forms are used correctly in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'The services you provided is' (subject-verb agreement), 'all of my possession are' (pluralization), and 'The driver have to' (subject-verb agreement). These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding the message. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and pluralization, and try to incorporate more complex sentence structures with greater accuracy.

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

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