Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-24

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 this letter for my concern about your article in a national newspaper.

In that article claimed that in my country all town centers looks similar.

I agree that the all city centers are looks like similar. In fact some city centers in the north of the country did not have similarity and totally different building and street structure as compare to south side of city centers.

If you visit to north side city centers you will experience it yourself as well. Moreover I m sending few pictures of these city centers as an evidence of my statement.

If you like visit the north side please let know i will accompany you and give you detail tour about the north side down towns. That town centers is only 75 miles form the south of the country.

with regards,

Sohail Tanveer

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points, but the development is limited. While you mention that you disagree with the article, your explanation of why your town is different is vague and contradictory. You state that you agree all city centers look similar, then immediately argue they are different, which confuses the reader. Additionally, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which negatively impacts the task achievement score. To improve, ensure your position is consistent and provide more specific, descriptive details about the unique features of your town center to fully support your argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into short paragraphs, which is appropriate for the task. However, the logical flow is hindered by the contradictory statements mentioned above. The use of cohesive devices is basic and sometimes mechanical, such as 'In fact' and 'Moreover'. The transition between the agreement with the article and the counter-argument is abrupt. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more smoothly and ensure that each paragraph focuses on a single, clear point that supports your overall message.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You frequently use the phrase 'city centers' and 'town centers' without much variation. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'give you detail tour' instead of 'give you a detailed tour'. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic message, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band. Try to incorporate more descriptive adjectives and varied nouns to make your writing more engaging and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'In that article claimed' (missing subject), 'all city centers are looks like similar' (incorrect verb form), and 'If you like visit' (missing 'to'). The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Proofreading for basic errors like missing prepositions and incorrect verb tenses will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

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

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