Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-08

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You rent a flat from an accommodation agency. Your neighbour who rents their flat from the same agency plays very loud video games late at night.

Write a letter to the accommodation agency. In your letter

• explain when the problem began

• describe how the noise affects you

• say what you would like the agency to do

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear Sir/Madam

I hope you find that e-mail well .

My name is Mr. Bounderbey resident of flat number 3 block 23 .

I am writing to you complaining from my neighbour who rents their flat from your respectable agency as they play very loud video games at night . That problem started from 3 weeks ago. I tried to call them and send messages to my to inform and aware them about that entity ,but unfortunatly there is no responce till now . that leads me to write that e-mail to you as the noise are very loud to my flat especially my bedroom . it affects my sleep at night awaking me several times at midnight .subseqeuntly i feel tired all the day and can not concentrate at my work .My children also are not able to tolerate that noise affecting there school day and study.

Please Inform my neighbour formally with applying the considered penalty if it is possible about that issue according to law .

I am waiting your reply about my issue .

Yours Faithfully

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three required points and maintains an appropriate complaint purpose. You identify when the problem began (“3 weeks ago”), explain its effects on your sleep, work, and children’s study, and request formal action from the agency. The specific consequences make the complaint relevant and persuasive. The request for a penalty, however, is less clearly framed: “with applying the considered penalty” does not explain what action you expect, and the reference to the law is vague. To strengthen the response further, state a practical request, such as asking the agency to contact the neighbour and ensure quiet hours are observed. The opening and closing are suitable, though the salutation should match the task’s exact wording.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The reader can follow the main sequence: you introduce yourself, describe the neighbour’s behaviour, explain its effects, and ask the agency to act. However, most of the information is crowded into one long paragraph, so the progression is harder to see than it needs to be. The transition “subsequently” signals a consequence, but the links between the neighbour’s lack of response, the noise, and the effects on your family are not always clearly punctuated. Divide the letter into short paragraphs—for the problem, its impact, and your request—and use straightforward links such as “As a result” and “I would therefore ask you to…” This would make the organisation clearer and reduce the impression of ideas running together.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the complaint and its effects, including “loud video games,” “affects my sleep,” and “concentrate at my work.” There are also attempts at more formal language, such as “formally” and “according to law.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, including “complaining from,” “find that e-mail well,” and “applying the considered penalty.” Spelling errors such as “unfortunatly,” “responce,” and “subseqeuntly” also reduce accuracy. Aim for familiar, precise phrases rather than formal-sounding expressions that do not fit naturally. For example, say “I am writing to complain about…” and “please take appropriate action.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to combine ideas in longer sentences, for example when explaining that the noise wakes you and affects your work, and the main message remains understandable. However, the response relies heavily on long, loosely joined sentences, and errors in sentence boundaries, agreement, articles, and verb patterns make some parts difficult to read. In “the noise are very loud,” the subject and verb do not agree; “it affects my sleep at night awaking me” also needs clearer sentence structure and punctuation. Use a mix of shorter, complete sentences and carefully controlled complex ones. Check agreement and articles, and separate the effects on you and your children into distinct sentences.

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

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