Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-20

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 doing well. Recently, I saw your an advertisement for someone to help you in your home for a few hours a day next summer. I am writing to recommended my self for this work.

I could help you in your home for different tasks such as cleaning, laundry and cooking. Additionally, I know English very-well. Moreover, I also know few more language such as France and Spanish. The reason why I like to do this work is that your hobbies are to playing video games and chess with coincident I have also same hobbies as yours.

As you mention that you need someone for next summer I will be available at that time. I would preferer the time between morning 9 a.m. to evening 5 p.m. If you are interested please contacted me on my email address [redacted email].

Thank you for your time and assistance. I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours faithfully,

Dhruvi Patel

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three bullet points: you offer help with “cleaning, laundry and cooking,” explain that you share Mrs Barrett’s interests, and give a preferred working time. The purpose of the letter is clear, and the details are relevant. However, some parts are less fully addressed than others. Saying you are available “at that time” does not clearly confirm which days or dates you can work, and the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. window does not explain when you will not be available. The reason for wanting the job is also unclear: sharing hobbies may help you connect with her, but you do not explain why you want this work. State your availability and any restrictions explicitly, and develop your motivation.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall arrangement: an opening, a paragraph about your offer and motivation, a paragraph on availability, and a polite closing. This makes the main points easy to locate. You also use linking expressions such as “Additionally,” “Moreover,” and “As you mention,” showing an effort to connect ideas. At times, however, these transitions feel mechanical, and the relationship between ideas is not always clear—for example, the language skills are listed without explaining how they would help in the home, while the shared hobbies are introduced as the reason for applying. Group related details more purposefully and use simpler links where appropriate. Clarifying the availability information would also improve the progression of that paragraph.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main offer, including “cleaning,” “laundry,” “cooking,” and “available,” and the reader can understand your general intentions. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, spelling, or collocation errors make the letter sound unnatural. Examples include “recommended my self,” “very-well,” “few more language,” and “your hobbies are to playing.” Some expressions, such as “prompt response,” are more formal than necessary for this personal letter. Aim for accurate, natural phrases suited to the context, and check spelling and word forms carefully. More precise wording about the household tasks and your reason for applying would make the message clearer and more fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more developed sentences, and the overall meaning is generally recoverable. However, errors in verb forms, articles, agreement, and sentence construction occur across the letter. For example, “I hope you doing well” needs a form of “be,” and “I saw your an advertisement” has an article problem. The sentence about shared hobbies—“your hobbies are to playing video games and chess with coincident I have also same hobbies as yours”—is difficult to follow because its clauses are not joined correctly. There are also errors in “please contacted me.” Practise accurate present and past forms, articles, and clause linking, then proofread each sentence. More reliable control of these patterns would make your message easier to read.

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

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