Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-23

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)

Respected Editor,

I would like to inform you that I am totally disagree with an article that was published in your newspaper, not only in which discussed about town center but also, they describe all town center in the world are look similar with each other.

Dear Sir, I argue that different basic factor of the town center, all country has town center, that is true information placed in article are located in market areas. Town center is basically busy market; the most common thing is that all town centers are open for 24 hours.

I believe that there a lot of town centers have different worth with each other's.

In my country there have one town center, and I consider it is totally different in looks, status and size. Nevertheless, our town center is located in the middle of city, therefore It meets all of our needs. Other center is far away with a lot of distance.

I want to invite you in our town center and also give an offer to visitors I would like to say that please published this news in your newspaper.

Your faithfully,

Ali,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all three bullet points, though the development of ideas is somewhat limited. You clearly state your disagreement with the article, mention specific features of your town centre, and offer a tour. However, the explanation of why your town centre is different is vague; phrases like 'it meets all of our needs' do not provide enough specific detail to fully support your argument. To improve, focus on providing concrete examples of unique local features, such as specific historical landmarks, local architecture, or unique cultural events, rather than general statements about market hours or location.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the flow of ideas is often disjointed due to awkward phrasing and a lack of effective cohesive devices. For example, the transition between the second and third paragraphs is abrupt. While you use some linking words like 'nevertheless' and 'therefore', their usage is sometimes inaccurate or forced. Improving the use of logical connectors and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly enhance the readability and logical progression of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally limited and repetitive. You rely on basic terms such as 'town center' and 'different', which are used frequently throughout the text. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'different basic factor' and 'different worth with each other's', which sound unnatural. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use a wider range of vocabulary related to urban planning and personal opinions, and focus on using words in their correct context to express your ideas more precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter that occasionally impede communication. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('all country has', 'there a lot of town centers have'), incorrect verb forms ('I am totally disagree', 'please published'), and awkward sentence structures. While you attempt some complex sentences, they are often grammatically flawed. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically subject-verb agreement and the correct use of tenses. Proofreading for common errors like missing articles and incorrect prepositions will also help improve your accuracy.

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

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