Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-02

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 5.0)

Dear Sir,

Greetings, Hope you are doing well. I got an e-mail from you related to complaints of our reception area . They says our staff is not humble and not readily available. In a company , a reception area has a very important impact on visitors. A reception area should be cleaned and well maintained. Outsiders observes the maintenance and cleanliness of a reception area. They want a tidy place where they could sit and wait . They want a welcoming staff, that helps them when they feel any difficulty . In my opinion

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is only 95 words long. Consequently, the ideas are significantly underdeveloped. While you have identified the complaints and the importance of the reception area, the final bullet point regarding suggestions is incomplete, as the sentence 'In my opinion' is left unfinished. To improve, you must expand on your suggestions with specific, actionable details and ensure all parts of the prompt are fully addressed. The current length prevents a full development of the task requirements, leading to a lower score in this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter lacks a clear structure and paragraphing. While there is a basic attempt to address the points, the abrupt ending makes the overall progression unclear. Cohesive devices are minimal, and the flow between sentences is somewhat mechanical. To improve, you should organize your response into distinct paragraphs: one for the complaints, one for the importance of the area, and one for your specific suggestions. Using transition words like 'furthermore', 'consequently', or 'in addition' would help connect your ideas more logically and improve the overall readability of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision expected for higher bands. Phrases like 'not humble' and 'not readily available' are understandable but could be more sophisticated. There is some repetition of the phrase 'reception area'. To improve, try to incorporate more varied and precise vocabulary related to professional environments, such as 'professionalism', 'accessibility', or 'aesthetic appeal'. Expanding your range of collocations will help you express your ideas more naturally and effectively in a formal business context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('They says' instead of 'They say') and punctuation errors. The sentence structures are predominantly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. To achieve a higher score, you should focus on using a wider variety of sentence structures, including subordinate clauses. Additionally, proofreading for basic errors like 'Outsiders observes' (should be 'observe') and ensuring consistent verb tense usage will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing. Focus on mastering basic sentence construction before attempting more complex patterns.

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

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