Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-06

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 or Madam,

I am writing this letter to complain about the reception area where visitors arrive. Firstly, It is not proper furnished so people may face many difficulties while arriving in this area . Secondly, it is often crowded and the waiting area become uncomfortable during busy periods.

The reception area is very important because it is the first place where vistiors see and wait for their turn. If it is quite comportable ,clean then it has a postive impression on visitors .

I would appreciate it if you will provide comportable chairs and sofa for people who face difficulty while sitting . Secondly, you will also expand to make comfotable it. I look forward from hearing you soon. Thank you for your consideration.

Your's Faithfully,

Arshdeep Kaur.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address all three requested points: you mention inadequate furnishings and crowding, explain that reception creates visitors’ first impression, and suggest adding chairs and a sofa and expanding the area. However, the complaints and proposed changes are brief and not fully explained, so the response only partially develops the task. For example, “not proper furnished” does not clarify what is missing, and “you will also expand to make comfotable it” is difficult to understand as a specific recommendation. The letter is also below the required 150 words, which limits the space available to develop your ideas. Add details about the complaints and explain how each improvement would help visitors and the company.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall arrangement: it introduces the issue, explains the reception area’s importance, and then gives suggestions. Sequencing words such as “Firstly” and “Secondly” help readers follow the points, and the closing is recognisable as a formal letter. This coherent structure meets the lower-band expectations and shows some effective organisation. To make the progression more natural and precise, use paragraphs to separate the complaints, the area’s importance, and your recommendations. Some links are mechanical or unclear: “Secondly, you will also expand to make comfotable it” does not clearly connect the proposed expansion to the earlier point. A more explicit transition and clearer reference to the area would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main topic, with relevant terms such as “reception area,” “crowded,” “waiting area,” and “impression.” However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling and word-choice errors make parts of the letter less clear. Examples include “vistiors,” “comportable,” “postive,” and “comfotable”; “not proper furnished” is also an inaccurate phrase. Some expressions, including “expand to make comfortable it,” do not convey the intended recommendation naturally. Aim to use accurate collocations and check spelling carefully. More precise phrases such as “insufficient seating,” “overcrowded during peak periods,” and “create a positive first impression” would make your points clearer and more appropriate for a formal workplace letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use a few sentence patterns, including a reason clause beginning “because” and a conditional request beginning “I would appreciate it if…”. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to affect clarity. For example, “the waiting area become uncomfortable” has a subject–verb agreement error, while “I would appreciate it if you will provide” uses an unsuitable verb form after this polite request. The sentence “Secondly, you will also expand to make comfotable it” has an unclear structure, and punctuation and spacing are inconsistent. Practise accurate agreement and verb forms, and build recommendations with clear patterns such as “I would appreciate it if you could provide…” or “The company could expand the waiting area.”

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

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