Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-04

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have just read an article in a national newspaper which claims that town centres in your country all look very similar to each other. You don't fully agree with this opinion.

Write a letter to the editor of the newspaper. In your letter

• say which points in the article you agree with
• explain ways in which your town centre is different from most other town centres
• offer to give a guided tour of your town to the writer of the article

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to express my dissatisfaction towards the article in you "Daily Bhaskar" newspaper. This article was published on 2nd April in the right side of newspaper.

The first problem arose with journal heading itself. In heading, it was mentioned that all city center look similar with poor infrastructure. Additinaly, the paragraph mentioned the concern regarding the traffic in the city which was the fair point. However, our area is way more different from other area. For instance, all the buildings have different paintings which helps to create awarness about trending concern in the world, which is amazing idea.

I would like you to plan a trip to our city, which helps you to understand the differntiation and culture of our local area. I will be happy to assist you whenever you have to opportunity to visit

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses all three bullet points: acknowledging the article, explaining the uniqueness of the town, and offering a tour. However, the development of these ideas is limited. The explanation regarding the town's buildings is somewhat vague, and the letter is under the 150-word minimum, which negatively impacts the depth of the response. The tone is generally appropriate for a letter to an editor, but the lack of length prevents a fully developed argument, leading to a score of 5.0.

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 somewhat mechanical and limited (e.g., 'The first problem', 'Additinaly', 'However'). The transition between the critique of the article and the offer for a tour is abrupt. While the overall progression of ideas is logical, the limited length and simple linking words restrict the flow, resulting in a score of 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several spelling errors, such as 'Additinaly', 'awarness', and 'differntiation', which suggest a lack of proofreading. The range of vocabulary is basic, and some collocations are awkward, such as 'journal heading' instead of 'article headline'. To achieve a higher score, you should focus on using more precise vocabulary and ensuring accurate spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'all city center look similar' (subject-verb agreement), 'which helps you to understand' (unnecessary relative clause usage), and 'whenever you have to opportunity' (preposition error). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the missing full stop at the end of the letter. These errors occasionally impede the clarity of the message.

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

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