Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-17
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 5.5)
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to this letter to inform you about I am currently work from home. I have a problem with my laptop which is use for my work.
The laptop is in good condition. I am using this laptop since three months. But currently the laptop is not working properly. Some time it takes longer time to start and shutdown. Due to this I am facing problem while I am working on my laptop.
This problem is affecting my work because slow speed of my laptop take more time for load the software as well as data. As a result I am not able to work on my laptop properly and I missed my work deadline due to this problem my client and me face the problem.
I am kindly request to you see my problem and give me solution for this because my laptop is in warranty.
Thank you for looking into this and I am open for further communication if you have any question.
Your Sincerely,
Akshay Ahir
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The letter covers all three bullet points required by the task: describing the problem, explaining the impact on work, and stating the desired action. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the explanation of how the problem affects work is repetitive, focusing mainly on 'slow speed' and 'time'. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific details about the nature of the work affected or the specific software issues encountered. Despite this, the purpose of the letter is clear, and the reader understands the situation and the request for a resolution.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of your argument. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Due to this', 'As a result', and 'However'. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and there are instances where the connection between ideas could be smoother. For example, the transition between describing the laptop's condition and the current problem is abrupt. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main points, but it lacks the range and precision expected at higher bands. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'problem with my laptop' and 'not working properly'. There are also some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'take more time for load' instead of 'to load' and 'I am kindly request to you' instead of 'I kindly request that you'. To improve, try to incorporate more specific technical or professional vocabulary related to equipment failure and business communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter, which occasionally hinder the flow of reading. Examples include 'I am writing to this letter to inform you about I am currently work from home' (incorrect verb tense and structure) and 'I am using this laptop since three months' (should be present perfect continuous: 'I have been using...'). While you attempt some complex structures, they are often inaccurate. You need to focus on mastering basic sentence construction, particularly verb tenses and prepositions, to ensure your meaning is conveyed accurately and professionally.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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