Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 to request you to give me an opportunity to work at your home. Actually, I saw your advertisement and knew about it that you need a helper.

I am able to do all kinds of household chores such as cleaning, cooking and so on. Before that i have already worked at many places. So, I have an enough experience about household works.

As we are neighbours, It will helpful for both of us because I need a job. It is also beneficial for you that you know me very well about my behaviour and way of my working. Also, I can earn money by working there.

I would like to work part-time. In mornings, I have another job in a daycare but in the evenings, i will be free to work for you. Moreover, on weekends, I am available to work at you home.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Ramandeep Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three points in the prompt: you offer household help, explain that you want a job and to earn money, and give your availability in the evenings and at weekends. The examples of “cleaning, cooking” make your offer relevant, and mentioning your daycare job clarifies why mornings are unavailable. However, some points are only briefly developed. For example, “all kinds of household chores” is broad, and you could specify other useful tasks or how many hours you can work. Your reasons for wanting the work are also somewhat repetitive, focusing mainly on needing a job and earning money. A more specific explanation of your experience and motivation would make the letter more complete and persuasive.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a clear overall arrangement: you introduce your purpose, describe your experience, explain your reasons, and then state your availability before closing. Paragraphing helps the reader follow these stages, and linking phrases such as “Also” and “Moreover” connect related points. Some connections are mechanical or unclear, however. “Before that” does not clearly show when or how your previous work relates to your experience, while “As we are neighbours” introduces a reason that could be explained more directly. The repeated use of “Also” and “Moreover” makes the linking somewhat formulaic. Use clearer references and vary how you connect ideas so the progression feels more natural.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main points, including relevant terms such as “household chores,” “cleaning,” “cooking,” and “part-time.” However, the range is limited and several phrases are unnatural or imprecise, which keeps the message from sounding fluent. For example, “an enough experience” and “household works” are not natural expressions, and “work at you home” is an inaccurate phrase. “All kinds” is also broad rather than precise. Aim to learn common collocations for domestic work and employment, and choose wording that sounds appropriate in a polite letter. The meaning remains understandable, but more accurate and varied vocabulary would improve clarity and tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mixture of simple sentences and some longer structures, including “because I need a job” and the contrast between your morning job and evening availability. The main message is generally clear, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “It will helpful” is missing the verb “be,” and “you know me very well about my behaviour” has an incorrect sentence pattern. There are also inconsistent capital letters for “I” and “It,” and the phrase “In mornings” needs an article. Review verb forms, articles, and sentence patterns, then proofread capitalization. More accurate control of these structures would make your letter easier to read while preserving its clear meaning.

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

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