Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-23
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 hope you are doing well. I saw your ads in newspaper after looking that I will help you. Because I live nearby you.
I am explaining everything how can I assist her. Intially, I visited her home if she is comfortable with me I can help her. She is totally new so I will help her downloading essentail apps like uber, maps, which are helpful for her. I will shows her local shops and markets.
Moreover, I assist Mrs Barrett because when I was in canada at that time I felt same think. So being a good person I will help her so she feel comfortable in this town.
Therefore, I will available for Mrs Barrett everyday except Monday and Tuesday because I have college on these days. I think this thing works for you.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Your Sincerly,
Madhu Bala
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The letter addresses all three bullet points: suggesting help, explaining the motivation, and stating availability. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited. For instance, the suggestion to help with apps like 'uber' and 'maps' is relevant, but the explanation of why you want to do this work is somewhat vague and repetitive. The tone is inconsistent, shifting between addressing Mrs Barrett directly and referring to her in the third person ('assist her', 'I will shows her'). To improve, ensure that your ideas are fully expanded and that you maintain a consistent, polite tone throughout the letter.
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 often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, the transition 'Therefore' at the start of the final paragraph does not logically follow the previous point about your motivation. Additionally, there is confusion in referencing; you switch between addressing the reader as 'you' and referring to her as 'her', which disrupts the flow of the letter. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring consistent pronoun usage would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. There are several errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'I saw your ads in newspaper' (should be 'advertisement in the newspaper') and 'I will shows her' (should be 'I will show her'). The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic phrasing. To achieve a higher score, try to use more natural collocations and ensure that your word forms are accurate. Focus on using vocabulary that is appropriate for a formal letter of application.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The letter contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('I will shows her'), tense inconsistency ('I will available'), and missing articles ('in newspaper'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly in the closing. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your verb tenses are used correctly throughout the text.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.