Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-18
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 or madam
well am working from home for sake of your company and always i gave you all dresses after stiching in decided time but now from few days i have a problem with needle of machine as its not working properly and broke down so many times on just one dress even sometime it damage the cloth that is why now am not able to ship all the orders on time. therefore, can you fix that problem or if its possible then please sent me another new machine so i can continue my work without any delay.
thank you
your faithfully
Navjot Kaur
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers all three bullet points: describing the problem, explaining the impact, and requesting a solution. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely limits the development of ideas. The tone is somewhat informal and lacks the professional structure expected in a formal business letter. Because the response is 44 words short, the development of the situation is insufficient, preventing a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The letter lacks proper paragraphing, appearing as a single block of text. While there is a basic logical flow from the problem to the request, the lack of clear paragraph breaks makes the text difficult to navigate. Cohesive devices are minimal and somewhat repetitive (e.g., 'that is why', 'therefore'). The overall structure is underdeveloped, and the lack of a formal closing structure beyond the sign-off further impacts the coherence of the letter.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying on simple terms like 'problem', 'working', and 'machine'. There are noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'gave you all dresses' instead of 'delivered the garments' and 'stiching' (spelling error). The range of vocabulary is limited, which restricts the ability to convey the professional nature of the request. To improve, you should use more precise business terminology.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with verb tenses ('am working', 'i gave you'), missing articles ('with needle of machine'), and run-on sentences. Punctuation is largely absent, with no capital letters at the start of sentences and a lack of commas to separate clauses. The sentence structures are simple and lack the variety required for higher bands. Significant attention to basic sentence construction and punctuation is needed.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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