Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-07
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 5.0)
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to describe to you the benefits of sponsoring the children's sports team as well as organizing two open-air concerts, and to share my viewpoint at the end.
Firstly, sports are very important for every country, and if we focus on children, it will pay off in the end. For example, if a child gets a platform and support, he or she will definitely represent our country one day. Moreover, it's our responsibility to ensure our children do something productive in their leisure time, and playing sports is the best option.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement. Furthermore, the content is incomplete. While you mention the benefits of the sports team, you completely fail to address the second bullet point regarding the benefits of the open-air concerts. Additionally, you do not provide a clear, well-reasoned recommendation for how the company should spend the money. Because the response is underdeveloped and misses key components of the prompt, it does not adequately address the requirements of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The letter is very short, which limits the ability to demonstrate a range of cohesive devices. While there is a basic attempt at paragraphing and the use of transition words like 'Firstly' and 'Moreover', the overall structure is fragmented due to the lack of content. The progression of ideas is interrupted because the letter ends abruptly before addressing the remaining parts of the prompt. To improve, ensure that each bullet point is given its own paragraph and that ideas are linked more fluidly to create a cohesive argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is functional but basic. Phrases like 'very important', 'pay off in the end', and 'best option' are common and lack the precision expected at higher band levels. There is little attempt to use less common or topic-specific vocabulary related to corporate sponsorship or community development. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and precise terminology that demonstrates a wider range of language appropriate for a formal letter.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The grammar is generally accurate, and the sentences are easy to follow. You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex structures, such as the conditional sentence 'if a child gets a platform... he or she will definitely represent our country'. However, the limited length of the response means there is not enough evidence to demonstrate a wide range of complex structures. The sentences are grammatically sound, but the lack of variety and the brevity of the text prevent a higher score in this category.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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