Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-24

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 Sir,

I am writing to request you about change the reception area. many customers complaints about the reception area.

Many of the problems such as not enough space customer has to stand. not having enough chairs , as many visitors arrive so it is difficulty for not having enough area and chairs.

Many of important equipment such as pens, stamps, papers, printing machine are not working properly. please call repair man.

besides that. an reception area is important because anyone who is coming firstly they arrive at reception area. form here we guide customer about information, also getting payment from visitors.

any problem or issue they face firstly tell at reception table.

In addition, there are many ways to improve reception area includes introduce chairs, benches, organize big table for reception. install new printing machine, computer as well.

furthermore, install some plants for decoration, for fragrance, freshness. it helps in improving air quality.

I hope you will understand this issue and take action accordingly.

Thank you, Emily.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: describing complaints, explaining the importance of the reception, and suggesting improvements. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. While you identify problems like lack of space and faulty equipment, the explanations are brief and lack professional detail. The tone is occasionally informal and lacks the polish expected in a formal business letter to a manager. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is expanded with more specific context or professional justification, and maintain a consistent, formal tone throughout the correspondence.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as starting sentences with 'besides that' or 'from here'. There are also issues with sentence boundaries, as some sentences are fragmented or run-on, which disrupts the flow of information. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in addition') more naturally and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus that transitions smoothly to the next.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'not enough' are used multiple times, and there are errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'request you about change' instead of 'request a change to' or 'call repair man' instead of 'call a technician'. The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little evidence of less common or more precise business-related terminology. Expanding your vocabulary to include more professional collocations would significantly improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures, and there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Common issues include missing articles ('an reception area'), incorrect verb forms ('many customers complaints'), and awkward phrasing ('anyone who is coming firstly they arrive'). While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar and punctuation hinder the overall fluency of the letter. To improve, practice subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and focus on constructing more complex, error-free sentences.

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

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