Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-05

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 5.5)

Dear Mrs Barrett,

I am writing this letter to seeking an opportunity for a person who can help you in your home for a few hours a day in coming summer.

I can do multiple task in home such as cooking, cleaning as well as gardening. Also, I have taken few courses for cooking as I like to make new cuisines.

I am living here in Australia with my son and he goes to work everyday though I do not have much thing to do at home. Additionally, I like to learn different culture which enhances my knowledge.

As I mentioned earlier I am living with my son, I have to be at home in evenings during weekdays. However, I will not be available during weekends as I want to spend some time with my friends.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Jinal Prajapati.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter covers all three bullet points: suggesting help, explaining the motivation, and detailing availability. However, the response is slightly under the 150-word minimum, which impacts the overall development of ideas. While the suggestions for help (cooking, cleaning, gardening) are relevant, the explanation of motivation is somewhat brief and could have been expanded to better demonstrate the writer's suitability. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, though the opening sentence is grammatically awkward. To improve, ensure all points are fully developed to meet the length requirement and provide more depth in the reasoning.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. There is a logical progression from the purpose of the letter to the specific details requested. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. For example, the transition between the third and fourth paragraphs could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, but the overall flow feels a bit disjointed due to the brevity of the sentences. Using a wider variety of linking words would improve the cohesion of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. Phrases like 'do not have much thing to do' are informal and imprecise. There are some attempts at more specific vocabulary, such as 'enhances my knowledge' and 'cuisines', which is positive. However, the range is limited, and there are minor errors in word choice, such as 'seeking an opportunity for a person' instead of 'applying for the position'. To reach a higher band, focus on using more natural collocations and avoiding repetitive or overly simple phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. For instance, 'I am writing this letter to seeking' is incorrect; it should be 'to seek'. Additionally, 'I can do multiple task' should be 'multiple tasks', and 'I like to learn different culture' should be 'different cultures'. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in subject-verb agreement and article usage indicate a need for more careful proofreading and a better grasp of basic grammatical rules.

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

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