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 regarding the advertisement which you posted for looking short term support with the household chores on up-coming summer season.

I am pretty fast in doing all the household work since I am doing this from last two years. In the morning I can help with the cleaning the floor, mopping and washing the kitchen utensils. After that, I will take your pet for a walk and serve appropriate food to it. finally, I can also do some cooking in the morning which would help you to serve hot in the morning breakfast and also lunch.

I am perusing my post graduation at university of Toronto. I am looking for some part-time job for my monthly expenses and also to pay half of the tuition fees in the up-coming term. Hence, I feel this is great opportunity for me to take this job.

I will be available in the morning 6AM to 8 AM and in the evening after 5PM anytime I can work.

I hope you will understand and give me this job.

Yours faithfully,

Anjali

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points of the prompt: suggesting help, explaining the motivation, and detailing availability. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, although the opening sentence is slightly awkward. The ideas are relevant and clearly presented, covering household chores, pet care, and cooking. The purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning, and the content is well-developed enough to satisfy the requirements of the task. No parts of the prompt were omitted, and the response maintains a consistent focus throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of the prompt. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat basic and occasionally repetitive (e.g., 'In the morning', 'After that', 'finally'). While the paragraphing is functional, the transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated to improve the flow. The letter follows a standard structure, and the relationship between ideas is clear, which is sufficient for a Band 6.0 or 6.5 level.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to convey their message clearly. There are some instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'looking short term support' instead of 'looking for short-term support' and 'perusing my post graduation' (likely meaning 'pursuing'). While the range is sufficient to cover the topic, there is limited use of less common or more precise vocabulary. The errors in word choice do not impede communication, but they do prevent the response from reaching a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'I am doing this from last two years' (should be 'have been doing this for the last two years') and 'serve hot in the morning breakfast' (should be 'serve a hot breakfast'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and article errors throughout. While these errors are noticeable, they do not cause significant confusion for the reader. The writer demonstrates an ability to use complex structures, but control over these structures is inconsistent.

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

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