Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-04

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Mrs Barrett, an English-speaking woman who lives in your town, has advertised for someone to help her in her home for a few hours a day next summer.

Write a letter to Mrs Barrett. In your letter

• suggest how you could help her in her home
• say why you would like to do this work
• explain when you will and will not be available

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Mrs Barrett,

Student answer (Band 5.0)

Dear Mrs Barrett,

Hi, How are you

I know about you from my friend that you are speak english and do not about other language. My friend told me that you need help of someone.

To be honestly , I am good to speak in english and easily understand english. I could help of her in many ways. First and foremost is that I will understand the situation and do efforts for doing help which she want. Moreover, I will give some money to buy necessary things.

I am kind hearted person and always prefer to do help of everyone. Although , I speak english, I am not perfect to speak in it. Therefore, I always try to speak in it whenever get chance to speak someone. So, I think it is best chance for me to speak this language. Honestly, I have hectic schedule and not enough time to do another work. However, on weekends, I have some time so, I will assist of this lady on these days.

Gurpreet Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: suggesting help, explaining the motivation, and stating availability. However, the development of ideas is weak. For instance, the suggestion to 'give some money to buy necessary things' is confusing and inappropriate for a home-help role. The explanation of why you want the job is somewhat repetitive, focusing heavily on your desire to practice English rather than your ability to assist Mrs Barrett. To improve, you should provide more concrete examples of household tasks you can perform, such as cleaning, shopping, or gardening, and ensure your tone is consistently professional and helpful throughout the letter.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is divided into paragraphs, but the logical flow between sentences is often disjointed. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'Although', they are sometimes used incorrectly or in a way that makes the meaning unclear. For example, the transition 'So, I think it is best chance for me' feels abrupt. The referencing is also inconsistent; you switch between addressing Mrs Barrett directly and referring to her in the third person as 'this lady' or 'she', which disrupts the cohesion of the letter. Improving the use of linking words and maintaining a consistent perspective will help the reader follow your ideas more easily.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and often repetitive. You frequently use the phrase 'do help' or 'speak in it', which is unnatural. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'do not about other language' and 'do efforts', which hinder the clarity of your message. To reach a higher band, you need to use a wider range of vocabulary related to household tasks and professional communication. Try to avoid basic verbs and look for more precise collocations. For example, instead of 'do help', use 'assist with household chores' or 'provide support'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede communication. Issues include incorrect verb forms ('you are speak english'), missing articles, and awkward sentence structures ('I could help of her'). The punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and the lack of proper sentence endings in the opening. While you attempt some complex sentences, they are often grammatically flawed. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and sentence construction. Proofreading for common errors like missing prepositions and incorrect verb tenses will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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