Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
Dear Mrs Barrett,
I am writing to let you know that I am available to help you in your home for some time a day next summer. Being a student I have summer vacations and staying in the house seems so boring, However I give extra hand to my mother in daily household chores the same I can help you in kitchen or arranging home stuff as it gives me inner satisfaction and happiness. Please let me know the time and address and I will be happy to meet you that time.
Kind regards,
Sparsh
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, coming in at only 95 words. This significantly impacts the development of the required bullet points. While you have touched upon all three requirements—suggesting help, explaining your motivation, and mentioning availability—the ideas are underdeveloped. For instance, your availability is vague, and you do not specify when you will *not* be available, which was a specific instruction. To improve, you must expand on each point with more detail and ensure the letter reaches the required length to fully address the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The letter is very short, which makes it difficult to demonstrate a range of cohesive devices. There is a basic attempt at logical flow, but the transition between sentences is somewhat abrupt. For example, the use of 'However' is grammatically incorrect in its current position, as it does not link two contrasting clauses effectively. Paragraphing is also insufficient; a formal letter should have a clear structure with distinct paragraphs for the introduction, the body points, and the closing. You should focus on using linking words like 'furthermore', 'consequently', or 'in addition' to connect your ideas more smoothly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is functional but quite limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'extra hand' and 'home stuff' are informal and lack the precision expected in a formal letter. While the meaning is generally clear, there is little evidence of a range of vocabulary that would allow for more sophisticated expression. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise collocations and formal language suitable for a letter to a stranger, such as 'household assistance' instead of 'help in your home' or 'domestic tasks' instead of 'household chores'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors that affect the flow of the text. For example, 'for some time a day' is awkward phrasing, and 'the same I can help you' is grammatically incorrect. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, which limits your ability to demonstrate grammatical control. You rely mostly on simple sentences. To improve, try to incorporate more complex structures, such as relative clauses or conditional sentences (e.g., 'If you are interested, I would be happy to discuss...'), and pay closer attention to punctuation and sentence boundaries.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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