Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-30

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Write a letter to the local council. In your letter

• give details of how you and your friends or family use the centre
• explain why the sports and leisure centre is important for the local community
• describe the possible effects on local people if the centre closes

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter to discuss the importance of the leisure centre.

Firstly, this centre is very useful place for the all aged people. Even me and my friends like to spend our free time over there. We like to play games together to fresh our mind.Even in the evening time, me and my father went over there for the exercise. I think this place gives alot of benefits to the local residance such as they can spent time with each other, they can play sports here. Moreover, its also contributes to the local community because people are paying membership fees to join the centre.

Furthermore, if the centre will close down in the future, might it will affect the local community as well as then people are not able to enjoy their day. They need to go out of city for the leisure activities.

I would like to hear back from you.

Yours Sincerely,

Yadwinder

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address the main parts of the task by describing visits with friends and your father, noting the centre’s community benefits, and explaining that residents may have to travel outside the city if it closes. These are relevant points, and the letter’s purpose is clear. However, the effects of closure are only briefly described, and the centre’s wider importance is expressed in general terms rather than supported with specific examples. The opening also says “Dear Sir,” rather than using the requested greeting, “Dear Sir or Madam,” and the letter does not directly ask the council to keep the centre open. Develop the consequences for different local groups and make your request explicit to address the task more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a recognisable structure: an opening, paragraphs introduced by “Firstly” and “Furthermore,” and a polite closing. The ideas generally progress from personal use to community benefits and then to the consequences of closure. However, the first main paragraph combines several points in a long sequence, so the distinction between your personal examples and the centre’s broader value is not always clear. Some linking is mechanical, and the transition to the closure effects is abrupt. Organise the letter into clearer paragraphs for each task point, and use references such as “this facility” or “these activities” carefully so the reader can follow how each idea connects.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main message, including “leisure centre,” “membership fees,” “local community,” and “leisure activities.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which makes parts of the letter sound unnatural: “fresh our mind,” “all aged people,” and “local residance” are examples. Spelling and word-form errors also appear in “alot” and “residance.” Aim for more precise, natural phrases and check spelling carefully. For example, you could describe the centre as serving “people of all ages” and say that exercise helps you “clear your mind.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including a sentence beginning “Even if the centre will close down…” and a list of possible community benefits. The overall meaning is usually understandable, but some errors in verb forms, articles, agreement, and sentence boundaries reduce accuracy. For instance, “this centre is very useful place” needs an article, while “if the centre will close down” uses an unsuitable future form after “if.” The sentence “might it will affect” also has an incorrect modal construction, and “me and my friends” is not the appropriate subject form. Work on conditional structures, subject–verb agreement, and punctuation between sentences to make your ideas clearer.

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.