Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-17

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 4.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter because I partially agree with the article published in the national newspaper on 16th October 2026. I believe Cultural significance and the fusion of aromatic spices used in the dishes make the towns' centres different across the country.

I completely agree that the same variety of restaurants, buildings, and parks builds the town centres. These are common in most towns, with connected transportation from numerous vehicles.

However

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

You establish a relevant position by saying you “partially agree” and identify shared features such as restaurants, buildings, parks, and transport. However, the response is incomplete: it does not explain specific ways your own town centre differs from others, and it does not offer the article’s writer a guided tour. The point about cultural significance and spices is introduced but not developed or connected to a particular local example. The response also falls 74 words short of the required minimum, leaving too little space to address the three bullet points adequately. To improve, develop each point with concrete details, especially distinctive local features, and close with a clear invitation to visit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The letter has a recognisable opening and a basic progression: you state your view, then mention features you believe are common. The contrastive “However” suggests an attempt to move towards your town’s differences, but it is left unfinished, so the reader cannot follow the argument to a conclusion. The second paragraph also combines several general features without explaining how they relate to your position. Use separate paragraphs for agreement, distinctive local characteristics, and the invitation, and complete each idea before moving on. A closing sentence and appropriate sign-off would also make the letter feel complete and improve its overall organisation.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “Cultural significance,” “fusion,” “aromatic spices,” and “connected transportation,” showing an attempt to describe local identity and town-centre facilities. However, the range is limited by the short response, and some expressions are broad or imprecise: “the same variety of restaurants” is unclear, while “connected transportation from numerous vehicles” does not naturally express how transport links towns. More precise phrases would help you distinguish shared features from local ones. Also use lower-case “cultural” within a sentence unless it begins one. Aim to name specific local attractions, traditions, or foods rather than relying on general claims.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes mostly understandable simple sentence patterns, such as “I am writing this letter because I partially agree…” and “These are common in most towns.” You also attempt a more complex structure with “I believe…,” but the sentence is difficult to follow because its two ideas are not clearly connected. The standalone “However” is an incomplete sentence and leaves the contrast unfinished. The apostrophe in “towns’ centres” is also not appropriate for the intended plural meaning; write “town centres.” To improve, complete each sentence, use a clear clause to explain how local features differ, and check punctuation and possessive forms. More varied, accurately controlled sentence structures would strengthen the letter.

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

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