Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-16

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 5.0)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to counter your opinion in a recent article in a national newspaper which claims that town centers in our country all liik very similar to each other. To some extent the points in your article were accurate but I completely disagree to some of the points in your publication.

First of all, you mentioned that all the town centers almost looks alike from exterior design, this statement was true to som e extent but the interior design and range of facilities in all the town centers i

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is only 92 words long and ends abruptly mid-sentence. Consequently, the task is not fully addressed. While the letter begins to cover the required points—acknowledging the article and attempting to contrast the town centre—the development is severely limited by the incomplete nature of the text. To improve, you must ensure all bullet points are addressed with sufficient detail and that the letter is brought to a logical conclusion. The current length significantly impacts the ability to demonstrate a full response to the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The text is too short to demonstrate a full range of cohesive devices or effective paragraphing. While there is a basic attempt at logical progression in the opening, the abrupt ending prevents the evaluation of overall coherence. The use of linking words like 'First of all' is appropriate, but the lack of development makes it difficult to assess the flow of ideas. To achieve a higher score, you need to write a complete response with clear paragraph breaks for each of the required points, ensuring that ideas are linked smoothly throughout the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally functional but limited. There are some spelling errors, such as 'liik' instead of 'look' and 'som e' instead of 'some'. The range of vocabulary is basic, and the incomplete nature of the response prevents the use of more sophisticated or varied language. To improve, focus on using more precise adjectives to describe your town centre and ensure you proofread for basic spelling mistakes. Expanding your vocabulary related to urban planning or local features would also help demonstrate a wider range of lexical resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('town centers almost looks alike' should be 'look alike') and preposition errors ('disagree to' should be 'disagree with'). The sentence structures are relatively simple, and the abrupt ending makes it impossible to evaluate your control over more complex grammatical forms. To improve, focus on basic subject-verb agreement and ensure that your sentences are complete. Practising the use of complex sentences with appropriate conjunctions will also help you demonstrate a better range of grammatical structures.

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

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