Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-09

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. Barret.

I am writing because i saw a advertisement near my house i truly want to help you in my summer breaktime.

i would like to say that my home is near your house i recently went from there so it is easy to help for you i could help you by arranging the room also I ensure that nobody comes to your house because i mention that to them Barret not here so they aware of that. If i think that is important i will call you as soon as possible.

i would like to do this for reason firstly I am close to your house also i want build a connection who speak English very well I am planning to do my masters in English i am thinking you could help in this as well.

So, I am available during my summer break to winter presently i am in my fourth year so i don't have any work until next 2 years.

Thankyou for your time and consideration, I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Sam

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: suggesting help, explaining the motivation, and detailing availability. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the suggestion of 'arranging the room' and 'ensuring nobody comes to your house' is a bit vague and slightly unusual in a professional context. The motivation is clear, but the expression is repetitive. To improve, you should provide more specific examples of how you can assist (e.g., light cleaning, gardening, or grocery shopping) and ensure the tone remains professional throughout. The response addresses the prompt requirements sufficiently to meet the criteria for a mid-range band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'I would like to say that' and 'I would like to do this for reason' are used to transition between ideas, but they feel repetitive and lack variety. The progression of ideas within paragraphs is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the second paragraph where the transition from cleaning to security is abrupt. Improving the use of linking words such as 'furthermore', 'consequently', or 'in addition' would help create a smoother flow between your thoughts.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic phrasing, such as 'I want build a connection' and 'I am thinking you could help'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'went from there' instead of 'live nearby'. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to the context of household help and professional communication. You should also work on word formation, as seen in the error 'a advertisement' (should be 'an advertisement').

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure. For example, 'i' is consistently written in lowercase, and there are several run-on sentences that lack proper punctuation, such as 'I am writing because i saw a advertisement near my house i truly want to help you'. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors are persistent and distract the reader. You should focus on mastering basic sentence boundaries and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed with correct conjunctions and punctuation.

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

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