Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-17

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 5.0)

Dear Sir/madam,

I am writing to complain you about my neighbour who came recently to the flat. Everything was all right untill he comes.

My neighbour who rents next to my house, plays very loud video games at night. Even though, I informed him to reduce the volume, He did not bother to do so

Due to loud noice I am unable to sleep at night. My sleep get distracted and it gives detrimental effect on my studies as I am unable to concentrate on my studies properly

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

You identify the central problem and explain two consequences: you cannot sleep, and your studies and concentration are affected. However, the task is only partially addressed: you do not clearly state when the noise began beyond saying the neighbour “came recently,” and you do not say what action you want the agency to take. The request to the agency is an essential part of the letter, so explain whether you want them to contact the neighbour or enforce quiet hours. The response is also 62 words below the required minimum, leaving too little space to develop all three points. Add specific timing and a clear, polite request.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The ideas are relevant and appear in a broadly sensible order: you introduce the complaint, describe the neighbour’s gaming, and explain its effect on you. This gives the reader a basic understanding of the situation. However, the letter has no closing or clear final request, so it does not progress to a complete conclusion. The links between ideas are also limited; “Even though” is not used appropriately to connect the sentence that follows, and the transition into the effect on your sleep is abrupt. Use separate paragraphs for the background, impact, and requested action, and connect them with straightforward, accurate linking phrases.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary to communicate the complaint, including “loud video games,” “reduce the volume,” and “unable to sleep.” The phrase “detrimental effect” also shows an attempt to use more formal language. However, the range is limited, and several word choices or spellings are inaccurate, such as “complain you,” “noice,” and “my sleep get distracted.” These errors make parts of the letter less natural, although the main problem remains understandable. Aim for precise collocations and a suitably formal tone: for example, say “complain about my neighbour,” “noise,” and “my sleep is disrupted.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple sentences and a longer sentence beginning “Even though,” but control is inconsistent. Errors include “Everything was all right untill he comes,” where the tense shifts, and “My sleep get distracted,” where the verb form and sentence construction are faulty. Capitalisation is also inconsistent in “He” after a comma. These problems show that basic meaning is usually recoverable, but sentence patterns and verb forms are not yet reliable. Practise keeping past events in the past tense and checking subject–verb agreement. For example, write “Everything was fine until he moved in” and “My sleep is disrupted by the noise.”

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