Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Hi Sir,

I purchased a Samsung mobile phone last year from your store and when i came here the customer service team member told me that this phone is really advanced including camera and all key functions. since, i used this electronic device mostly for the social media because i am a influencer my device started to lag continuously as well as the video option is also not working.

Like I mentioned earlier, I am an influencer on social media, and most of the time I spend making vlogs for my YouTube channel as well as for Instagram; therefore, it is my sole source of income.

So i want the store to pay attention on my device so i can start my videography as soon as possible. I would be really grateful to you

Your faithfully,

Sarbjit Kaur.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: describing the problem, explaining the impact on work, and stating the desired action. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. The explanation of the problem is brief, and the request for action is vague ('pay attention on my device'). To reach a higher band, you need to expand on the specific technical issues and provide a more formal, detailed request for a repair, replacement, or refund. The tone is also slightly inconsistent for a formal business letter.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organised into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited. Transitions like 'since' and 'therefore' are used, but the flow between sentences feels somewhat disjointed. The opening salutation 'Hi Sir' is informal and does not match the required 'Dear Sir or Madam' provided in the prompt instructions. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring a consistent formal tone throughout would improve the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You use basic terms like 'really advanced', 'key functions', and 'pay attention'. While these communicate the message, they do not demonstrate the range of vocabulary expected at higher bands. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'since, i used' and 'as a influencer'. To improve, try to incorporate more specific terminology related to technical faults and professional correspondence.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains several grammatical errors, including punctuation issues (missing commas), capitalization errors ('i' instead of 'I'), and awkward phrasing ('when i came here the customer service team member told me'). The sentence structures are mostly simple or compound; there is a lack of complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of errors in basic grammar and punctuation prevents a higher score. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and consistent capitalization.

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

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