Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-03
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
A large company in your area has decided to spend a certain amount of money, either to sponsor a local children's sports team for two years, or to pay for two open-air concerts. It has asked for feedback from the general public.
Write a letter to the company. In your letter
- describe the benefits of sponsoring the sports team
- summarise the benefits of paying for the concerts
- say how you think the company should spend the money
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,
Student answer (Band 5.5)
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to give my suggestion in regard to an initiative in which you are planning to sponsor either our Cubs Roar children's sports team to foster physical activity or to arrange two open-air concerts to provide a leisure activity for local community.
Firstly, I would describe the beneficial effects of sponsoring our local school team, which will inspire the young children to participate in group games. Moreover, this will lead to not only physical benefits, but also boost intellectual capacities. This opportunity will similarly give them confidence to play at national and international platforms.
On the other hand, spending significant amount to organise two open-air music concerts will provide captivating moments for the local individuals. These events will enhance our community bound
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to address all parts of the task. While you describe the benefits of the sports team and the concerts, the letter is incomplete, ending abruptly mid-sentence. Crucially, you did not state your preference or provide a recommendation on how the company should spend the money, which is a mandatory requirement of the prompt. Additionally, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum, which negatively impacts the development of your ideas. To improve, ensure you complete all bullet points and provide a clear conclusion that answers the prompt's final instruction.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter shows some attempt at logical organization, using transition signals like 'Firstly', 'Moreover', and 'On the other hand'. However, the abrupt ending prevents a coherent conclusion or a sense of closure. Paragraphing is present, but the incomplete nature of the final paragraph disrupts the flow of the argument. To improve, ensure that each paragraph is fully developed and that you include a concluding sentence or paragraph that summarizes your position and provides a final recommendation, ensuring the letter feels like a complete, cohesive piece of writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate a reasonable range of vocabulary, such as 'initiative', 'foster', 'captivating', and 'intellectual capacities'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in collocation, such as 'community bound' (likely meant 'community bonds') and 'spending significant amount' (missing an article). The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. Focus on using more natural collocations and ensuring that your word choices are consistently accurate to convey your ideas clearly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'give my suggestion in regard to an initiative in which you are planning' (slightly awkward phrasing) and 'local individuals' (which sounds unnatural in this context). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the incomplete sentence at the end is a major issue. To reach a higher band, aim for more error-free complex sentences and ensure that your grammar remains consistent throughout the entire piece, avoiding incomplete thoughts.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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