Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-06

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/ Madam,

I hope you find this letter very well, I am zeophine timbai , I write this letter about your recent article, that i read in national news paper regarding town centres in our country, I am not completely agree with this.

Firstly, i would like to say that both town are really improving past few months, Moreover i am not agree with some point like our health care system is better then every other town centre even social networks are more powerful comparatively other, last month our most of the hospitals are certify with NABH, and it was huge achievement for our town, Which is difference between two towns.

Furthermore, our town architecture was completely different then any other town, because of the weather so, it was not similar to each other, so in my opinion there is lot of difference.

Thank you for your understanding and time.

Yours Faithfully,

zeophine timbai.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points, though the development is somewhat limited. You clearly state your disagreement with the article and provide examples of how your town differs, such as the healthcare system and architecture. However, the explanation of the healthcare system is slightly confusing and lacks a clear connection to the 'town centre' theme. The offer to provide a guided tour is included at the end, but it is not explicitly stated as an invitation to the editor, which would have strengthened the task fulfillment. Overall, the response covers the requirements but lacks depth in the arguments provided.

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, 'Moreover i am not agree' and 'Which is difference between two towns' are awkward transitions that disrupt the flow of ideas. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult to follow the logic between the article's claims and your counter-arguments. Improved use of linking words such as 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in contrast' would help create a more professional and coherent tone.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally basic and repetitive. You rely on simple phrasing such as 'really improving' and 'huge achievement.' There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'certify with NABH' instead of 'certified by the NABH' and 'comparatively other' instead of 'compared to others.' To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise vocabulary related to urban planning or town features, and ensure that words are used in their correct grammatical form.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('I am not completely agree'), article usage, and sentence structure. Many sentences are run-on or lack proper punctuation, such as the opening sentence which uses a comma splice. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic structures like verb tenses and prepositions limits the clarity of your message. You should focus on mastering simple sentence structures before attempting more complex ones to reduce the error rate.

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

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