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)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to discuss about an article that I had read in a national newspaper which claims that town centres in my country look very similar to each other.

Firstly, I am agree with the structure, building colour and the floors which are similar with each other whereas they all have different things inside. But I am not agree with the facilities and the advantages of my town centers. My town house has a big food court, cinema hall and a huge parking lot whereas the other town centers are small in space. Also, proper cleaning of washrooms and shop but in other town centers there is a very bad smell and not with all benefits.

I would like to request if you get a chance please visit to my town centre where i will give you a guided tour and show you my town centre and provide you a huge difference.

Your faithfully,

Simran

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly state your position regarding the article, provide specific examples of how your town differs, and extend an invitation for a tour. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the explanation of why your town is different relies on a list of facilities rather than a more nuanced description of the town's character or atmosphere. To reach a higher band, ensure that your arguments are fully extended and supported with more descriptive language, rather than just listing features.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a logical structure with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Paragraphing is used to separate the different points requested in the prompt. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For example, the transition 'Also' is used to start a sentence, and the connection between ideas within the second paragraph is slightly disjointed. Improving the flow between sentences using a wider variety of linking words or referencing would help the text feel more natural and cohesive.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on basic terms like 'big', 'bad', and 'things'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'discuss about' (which should be 'discuss') and 'not with all benefits'. To improve, you should aim to use more sophisticated vocabulary that is appropriate for a formal letter to an editor. For example, instead of 'big food court', you could use 'extensive dining facilities' or 'a diverse range of amenities'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'I am agree' (should be 'I agree'), 'I am not agree' (should be 'I disagree'), and 'if you get a chance please visit to my town' (should be 'visit my town'). The sentence structures are generally simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions. Incorporating more complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses or conditional sentences, would also enhance your score.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.