Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-23

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

There have been several complaints about the reception area where visitors to your company arrive. Your manager has asked you to suggest how the reception area could be improved.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter

• describe the complaints that have been made
• say why the reception area is important
• suggest how the reception area could be improved

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. ,

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear Manager

I am writing this letter to recommend the way to improve our reception area.

Since I joined here I am noticing that clients complaining about shrinked siting area in our reception. We do not even have the arrangement of 50 chairs due to which sometimes visitors have to while waiting period.

Reception area is essential where clients can feel relaxed and wait for their turn. If there is long line up during our peak hours, they can sit in the reception ae for hours.

According to me, we should install more chairs in reception by removing plants towards the right side. There are three biggar indoor plants that we placed in the center occupied more space. We can use that area to install atleast 20 more chairs.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses all three bullet points: describing complaints, explaining the importance of the area, and suggesting improvements. However, the ideas are underdeveloped, and the response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. The content is brief and lacks the necessary detail to fully develop the suggestions or the context of the complaints. To improve, you should expand on the specific nature of the complaints and provide more detailed reasoning for your proposed solutions to ensure the letter is sufficiently long and informative.

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 very limited and somewhat mechanical. For example, the transition between the complaint and the importance of the area is abrupt. The logical progression is present but basic. To achieve a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and phrases (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in light of this') to connect your ideas more fluidly and improve the overall flow of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks range and precision. There are several errors in word choice and form, such as 'shrinked siting area' (should be 'cramped seating area') and 'biggar' (spelling error). The phrasing is often repetitive, and the use of 'According to me' is not the most natural way to introduce a suggestion in a professional letter. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and expanding your vocabulary related to office environments and professional communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'Since I joined here I am noticing' (tense error), 'have to while waiting period' (missing verb/preposition), and 'reception ae' (typo). The sentence structure is generally simple, and the lack of control over basic grammar rules prevents a higher score. You should focus on subject-verb agreement, correct tense usage, and proofreading for minor slips to improve your accuracy.

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

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