Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-09

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 this latter regarding receiving repeated complain from customer about mismanagement on reception area.

According to me reception is the mirror for outsider to recognize our company so if it not provide positive impact in first impression that leads negative image in customer mind.

First impression is the last impression .reseption is area which work properly then whole company runs smoothly.

So it is quite important to well managed reception in company .

For that I have pretty good suggestion that we should hire more staff so any time some one is there to take care of our client . Apart from this we should appoint new recruitment who has bilingual so they can do better communication.

Another thing is that if possible we should install cctv camera at reception area ,that give 24hr survilliance of reception area and staff will remain attentive all the time

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all three bullet points: describing complaints, explaining the importance of the reception, and suggesting improvements. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited. For instance, the 'complaints' are mentioned only as 'mismanagement,' which is vague. The suggestions regarding hiring more staff and installing CCTV are relevant but lack detail or professional justification. The tone is somewhat informal and lacks the appropriate structure for a formal business letter. To improve, you should expand on your ideas with more specific examples and ensure the tone is consistently professional throughout the letter.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is very limited and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'For that' and 'Apart from this' are used, but the flow between sentences is often disjointed. The transition between the importance of the reception and the suggestions is abrupt. To reach a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that connects logically to the next, creating a smoother progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive. There are several errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'latter' instead of 'letter,' 'complain' instead of 'complaints,' and 'reseption.' The phrase 'mirror for outsider' is awkward and lacks the precision expected in a professional context. While the meaning is generally clear, the range of vocabulary is insufficient to demonstrate the flexibility required for higher bands. You should focus on learning collocations related to business communication and proofreading for common spelling errors to improve your lexical accuracy.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. There are issues with article usage ('on reception area'), subject-verb agreement ('reception is area which work'), and sentence structure ('if it not provide positive impact'). The use of complex sentences is attempted but often results in errors, such as the run-on sentence in the second paragraph. The punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas and periods. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring correct verb tenses, and practicing the use of articles and prepositions in a business context.

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