Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-11
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 writting a formally request to inform you that during my work at home I faced an issue and it has a relation with my printer. Currently, I wasn't able to print any paper or PDF files when the power down and comback after 5 minutes suddenly the printer didn't start.
Presently, I can not work while the printer is jammed. the process of working will stop for a while because of this issue. Therefore, I have to satisfy the clients by completing their request and orders, So now they have to wait until we fix this printer.
Right now I recommand your company to send a specialist who is capable to maintain and fix the printer, In other side if the specialist wasn't there we should buy another one to continue our work and keep the clients satisfied we must not hold our horses at this moment.
sincerely,
Your Islam.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The letter covers all three bullet points: describing the problem, explaining the impact on work, and requesting a solution. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. The description of the technical issue is slightly confusing, and the explanation of the impact on work is repetitive. While the task requirements are met, the tone is inconsistent, and the explanation lacks the professional depth expected in a formal business letter. To improve, ensure that the sequence of events is clearly articulated and that the professional tone is maintained throughout the correspondence.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, 'In other side' is an incorrect transition, and the flow between sentences is occasionally disjointed. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as the vague use of 'we' when referring to the business operations. While there is an overall logical progression, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the occasional awkward phrasing mean that the cohesion is not always smooth or effective.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are several instances of awkward word choice and non-standard collocations. Phrases like 'writting a formally request' and 'hold our horses' are inappropriate for a formal business letter. The student attempts to use some specific vocabulary related to the task, but the execution is often imprecise. There are also spelling errors, such as 'recommand' and 'comback'. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on using more precise, formal vocabulary and ensuring correct spelling and collocations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include incorrect verb tenses ('I wasn't able to print'), subject-verb agreement, and word order ('it has a relation with my printer'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several run-on sentences and misused commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for tense consistency would be highly beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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