Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-15
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,
I would like to infrom you about issue in drill machine.
Drill machine wire is low standard in terms of conductor thikness. Due to this, wire is getting hot which is completely unsafe and any time can be damage.
Secondly, Wire is getting too hot, whenever drill run for one hour. I have to stop work for half hour after every one hour to cool down the wire. I am unable to work continue due to this issue and it is effecting to complete my work.
My hamble request is, repalce the wire with high thikness of conductor as much as possible. So i can complete my task with next two days. Otherwise, work will be effected due to drill machine wire and i can complete work on agreed timeline. i am sending you drill machine to your shop and you can replace wire or change drill machine within today.
Best Regards,
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all three bullet points required by the prompt: it describes the problem regarding the drill machine wire getting hot, explains how it affects the writer's work by forcing frequent breaks, and states what action is wanted (to replace the wire or change the machine). However, the tone and style are somewhat informal and inconsistent with a standard formal business letter, opening with 'Dear Sir' instead of the requested 'Dear Sir or Madam' and ending rather abruptly. Ideas are present and understandable, but the lack of formal development and slight deviations from the prompt's instructions keep this criterion at a Band 5.5 level. The bullet points are addressed, but the execution requires more precision and professional tone.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The letter uses basic paragraphing to separate different points, such as describing the issue, explaining the impact on work, and making the request. However, the logical progression is frequently disrupted by awkward referencing and repetitive phrasing. For instance, the transition between sentences is often abrupt, as seen in 'Secondly, Wire is getting too hot, whenever drill run for one hour.' Cohesive devices are basic and sometimes inaccurate, contributing to a mechanical feel. While the overall arrangement allows the reader to follow the main message, the lack of smooth transitions and faulty referencing prevent it from reaching a higher band. Paragraphing is attempted but lacks cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive, frequently relying on simple words like 'work', 'wire', and 'problem'. There are several noticeable lexical errors and inappropriate word choices, such as 'infrom' (inform), 'thikness' (thickness), 'hamble' (humble), and 'repalce' (replace). Additionally, phrases like 'wire is getting hot which is completely unsafe and any time can be damage' demonstrate limited control over collocations and word formation. The range is minimally adequate for the task, but errors in spelling and word choice cause some difficulty for the reader and restrict the lexical score to a Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writing displays a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying mostly on simple sentences with frequent structural errors. Examples of faulty grammar include 'issue in drill machine', 'any time can be damage', 'whenever drill run', and 'i am unable to work continue'. Articles and prepositions are frequently misused or omitted entirely (e.g., 'with next two days'). Complex sentence attempts are often grammatically flawed, and punctuation errors are common, such as lowercase 'i'. Because errors occur frequently throughout the text and occasionally impede clear communication, this performance aligns closely with the Band 5 descriptors for grammar.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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