Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-08
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
You work at home and have a problem with a piece of equipment that you use for your job.
Write a letter to the shop or company which supplied the equipment. In your letter
- describe the problem with the equipment
- explain how this problem is affecting your work
- say what you want the shop or company to do
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,
Student answer (Band 5.0)
Dear Sir
My purpose of writing this letter to pay your attention about the problem related to my printer .
My name is Japan jot .I ordered a laptop last week Its of dell company . I am facing a problem in its battery . I charged it full but its power diss so fast and turn off suddenly led to delay in my office work . Moreover it takes long time to get full charge .Because of this problem I have to ask for extra time to submit my work every time which is not possible . The delay of work effecting my project .
I am requesting if possible please change my laptop or you can refund my money as soon as possible so that i can buy a new one .
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AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The letter addresses all three bullet points: describing the problem, explaining the impact on work, and requesting a solution. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which negatively impacts the task achievement score. The ideas are somewhat underdeveloped; for instance, the explanation of how the battery issue affects work is repetitive. To improve, you should expand on the specific nature of your work and why the laptop failure is critical, ensuring you meet the length requirement to fully develop your points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter has a basic structure, but the paragraphing is inconsistent and the flow between sentences is often abrupt. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'Because of this', the logical progression is hindered by short, choppy sentences. The opening is also slightly confusing as you mention a 'printer' in the first sentence but then discuss a 'laptop' throughout the rest of the letter. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring your ideas follow a logical, connected sequence would significantly enhance the readability of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'facing a problem' and 'get full charge'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'power diss so fast' (likely meaning 'drains') and 'prompt act' (which should be 'prompt action'). To reach a higher band, you need to use a wider range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal complaint letter, such as 'defective', 'malfunctioning', or 'inconvenience', and ensure that your word choices are precise and natural.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including missing articles ('the' laptop), incorrect verb forms ('delay of work effecting'), and punctuation issues. The sentence structures are mostly simple, with few attempts at complex sentences. For example, 'I charged it full but its power diss so fast' contains errors in both structure and word choice. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and the correct use of articles. Increasing the variety of your sentence structures will also help demonstrate better control over grammar.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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