Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-09

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 articulating this letter to express my concern regarding the headphones which i purchased to help me when i have meeting with my clients or company as I work from home. when i connect headphones with my laptop it does not give clear sound which disturb my meeting.

This greatly effect my time and sechdule because i usually have appointment with my co-workers. Moreover , it gives unbearable noise that effect my ears also.

I had spend 200$ for this I want request you if you can change this for me or give me refund of this product I can return you this piece.

I would greatly appreciate your attention to this matter.

With Regards,

Harleen 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 requesting a resolution. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which limits the development of ideas. The explanation of how the problem affects work is brief, and the request for a refund or replacement lacks detail. To improve, you should expand on the specific nature of the technical issues and provide more context regarding your professional requirements to ensure the response is fully developed and meets the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited. Transitions between sentences are often missing or basic, such as the use of 'Moreover' in the second paragraph. The flow of ideas is somewhat mechanical, and the lack of length makes it difficult to demonstrate a wider range of linking words. To improve, try to use a greater variety of cohesive devices to connect your ideas more fluidly and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, expanded focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic. Phrases like 'articulating this letter' are slightly unnatural in this context. There are also some errors in word choice, such as 'effect' instead of 'affect' (used twice). The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little attempt to use more sophisticated or precise language to describe the technical issues or the desired outcome. Expanding your vocabulary related to customer service and technical problems would help improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains several grammatical errors, including missing articles ('have meeting', 'have appointment'), incorrect verb tenses ('I had spend'), and punctuation issues (spacing before commas). The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. The errors in basic grammar, such as subject-verb agreement and article usage, occur frequently enough to be noticeable. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic errors like verb forms and articles, and practice incorporating more complex sentence structures to demonstrate greater grammatical control.

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

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