Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-08

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear Sakshi,

Hope this letter finds you well!

I'm also fine. It's been a long since we met. I hope you and your family are well.

I'm writing this letter to inform you that my youger sister is coming to delhi for her exam. I wanted her to stay with you for a week as we don't have any relative there. So I want her to stay with you.

I hope you don't mind because I can't trust anyone nowadays.

She told me that she can stay at hotel or home stay but I prefered her to stay with you.

I know you never deny my request as you are the only person whom I can trust blindly.

Thanks

Your lovingly

Savita

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have addressed the core purpose of the letter—asking a friend to host your sister—the development of ideas is limited. The letter lacks sufficient detail regarding the logistics of the visit, such as the specific dates or the sister's arrival time, which would have helped flesh out the request. To improve, ensure you fully expand on all parts of the prompt, providing necessary context and details to meet the length requirement and demonstrate a more comprehensive response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is generally easy to follow, but the paragraphing is underdeveloped. The text is essentially one block of ideas, which makes it feel like a list of sentences rather than a cohesive letter. While you use some basic cohesive devices like 'I'm writing this letter to' and 'I hope', the transitions between sentences are somewhat abrupt. To reach a higher band, you should organize your thoughts into distinct paragraphs: one for the opening and purpose, one for the details of the request, and one for the closing. Using a wider variety of linking words would also improve the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is functional and allows you to communicate your message clearly, but it is quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'I'm also fine' and 'I hope you don't mind' are standard but lack variety. There are also some minor errors in word choice, such as 'prefered' (spelled incorrectly) and the phrasing 'I can't trust anyone nowadays', which sounds slightly unnatural in this context. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary and idiomatic expressions that are appropriate for a friendly letter, and ensure you check your spelling carefully before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The grammar is generally understandable, but there are several errors that affect the quality of the writing. You have issues with verb tense consistency and spelling, such as 'It's been a long since we met' (should be 'a long time') and 'prefered' (preferred). Additionally, some sentence structures are quite simple. While you attempt some complex sentences, they are often punctuated incorrectly or lack the necessary grammatical precision. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence structures and proofreading for common errors like subject-verb agreement and tense usage.

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

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