Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-21

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

I am writing to complain about a washing machine that your shop supplied to house 82, road 11, Mirpur dohs. I am working as a housekeeper here and I use this machine regularly. Recently, I am facing troubles with the machine while washing a specific type of cloth.

This machine was manufactured by Samsung which has separate modes for different types of cloth. All functions were working well previously but now when I select jeans mode for washing, the machine gets stuck and restarts Itself. At first I though the machine is damaged but later found that only jeans mode is not working. My employer wears Jeans only, so this washing mode is important.

Since all other modes are woking perfectly, I think this is a programming issue. If you send a technician to check the condition then it may get fixed.

So, I therefore request you to send someone expert to check the machine at earliest.

Yours Faithfully

Jamil

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have addressed all three bullet points of the prompt: describing the problem, explaining the impact on your work, and stating your desired outcome. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For example, while you mention the machine is important for your employer, expanding slightly on the urgency or the specific nature of the work would have strengthened the response. The letter is clear and the purpose is immediately apparent to the reader, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the introduction of the issue to the specific technical problem and finally the requested action. Paragraphing is present, though the structure is slightly disjointed due to the short, simple sentences. You use some cohesive devices like 'Since' and 'At first', but the flow could be improved with more varied linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly. The referencing is clear, and the overall arrangement is coherent enough to follow your argument without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate the problem clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'manufactured', 'programming issue', and 'technician'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are minor errors in word choice, such as 'housekeeper' (which usually implies a domestic role, whereas the prompt mentions equipment for a job) and 'at earliest' (which should be 'at your earliest convenience'). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise collocations and a slightly wider variety of descriptive language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'Recently, I am facing' (should be present perfect continuous: 'I have been facing') and 'restarts Itself' (unnecessary capitalization). Additionally, 'I though the machine is damaged' contains a tense inconsistency ('thought'/'was'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede the reader's understanding of your message. You have a basic control of grammar, but more consistent use of complex structures and improved accuracy in verb tenses would elevate your score.

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

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