Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-31

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,

I am writing to complain about the Sweep which I was using in my work for your cleaning agency that I went to the given location for cleaning the restaurant my sweep was broken.

Firstly, as per the policy I started my broom and after cleaning the area when I was water to my bucket to start my cleaning, it started leaking and when i check it has a whole on it.

After that,, I have to borrow their restaurant equipment's to sweep the area as you can relate how can i fell at that time that as working in the cleaning agency I have to borrow their things to clean the area.

Lastly, I hope that you will be able to recognize my problem and you will to be able provide a new sweep so that I am Abe to work more efficiently.

Yours Faithfully,

Jashanpreet Singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the problem is described, the impact on work is explained, and a request for action is made. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. The description of the 'sweep' (broom) is confusing, and the explanation of how it affects your work is repetitive and lacks professional tone. To improve, you should focus on providing clearer details about the equipment and a more formal explanation of the professional inconvenience caused. While the task requirements are met, the lack of clarity in the narrative prevents a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive feature. However, the flow of ideas is frequently interrupted by awkward phrasing and grammatical errors, making it difficult to follow the logic. For example, the transition between the problem and the impact is abrupt. Cohesive devices are used, but they are often misused or placed incorrectly, such as 'After that,,' which contains a punctuation error. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making the reader work harder to understand the sequence of events. More variety in linking words would improve the overall flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You use the word 'sweep' to refer to a broom, which is not standard usage in this context. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'I was water to my bucket' instead of 'I was adding water to my bucket'. The phrase 'how can i fell at that time' is also incorrect. To achieve a higher band, you need to use more precise terminology related to cleaning equipment and professional correspondence. Spelling errors, such as 'Abe' instead of 'able', also detract from the quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that often impede communication. There are significant issues with verb tenses ('I was using', 'I started my broom'), sentence structure, and punctuation. Many sentences are run-on or fragmented, such as the first sentence which is overly long and lacks proper clause structure. Subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are inconsistent throughout. While you attempt to use some complex structures, they are often faulty, leading to confusion. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for punctuation would significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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