Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-07

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 am writing this letter to express my willingness and excitement to apply for a job regarding the advertisement published by you in the newspaper.

To begin with, as next year around the time you need somebody to help you,I coincidentally have a break from my studies. So, it would be an amaing oppurtunity for me not only to learn new things but also for earning some money too.

Moreover, as I am looking to expand my horizon beyond my studies and wanted to experience new things and seeing how comfortable would I be in them. Additionally, I am also comfortable in looking after the younger kids and as you specifically mentioned about it. However, as long as it goes for my availability I would be available except on the weekends.

Please let me know what you think about my suggestion. I will eagerly wait for your response.

Thank you,

Sam

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You show a clear intention to apply and give a reason for wanting the work: you mention having a break from your studies and wanting to gain experience and earn money. However, the task is addressed only partially because the practical help you could provide is not clearly explained. “Looking after the younger kids” is one possible duty, but you do not say what other household tasks you could do, and the reference to children is not established in the prompt. Availability is also incomplete: “except on the weekends” does not specify which days or hours you can work, or whether there are any other periods when you are unavailable. Develop each requested point with specific, relevant details so Mrs Barrett can assess your suitability.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter has a recognisable structure, with an opening, two body paragraphs and a polite closing. Phrases such as “To begin with,” “Moreover,” and “Additionally” help signal the movement between ideas. However, the progression is not consistently clear: the second paragraph combines your motivation, desire to try new experiences, childcare ability and availability, so the reader has to work out how these points relate. Some linking phrases feel mechanical, and “as you specifically mentioned about it” does not clearly connect to information in the task. Organise the letter around the three requested points, using a separate paragraph for practical help and availability, and make references explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for a formal application, including “willingness,” “expand my horizon,” and “available.” These choices communicate your general purpose, although some expressions are unnatural or imprecise: “a job regarding the advertisement published by you” is wordy, and “expand my horizon” would more naturally be “broaden my horizons.” There are also noticeable spelling errors in “amaing” and “oppurtunity,” which reduce the accuracy of the writing. Choose direct, natural phrases suited to a letter, such as “apply for the advertised position” and “gain experience,” and proofread spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the construction “not only to learn new things but also for earning some money.” However, the parallel structure is not accurate, and several sentences contain awkward or faulty grammar. For example, “as next year around the time you need somebody to help you” is an incomplete, difficult-to-follow opening clause, while “wanted to experience new things and seeing how comfortable would I be in them” shifts verb forms and uses question word order inside a statement. There are also punctuation and spacing problems, such as the missing space after “you,” and the double space before “weekends.” Practise complete clauses, consistent verb forms and indirect-question word order.

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

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