Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-22

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 hope you are doing well. This is regarding the reception area as I am receiving ample of complaints about it.

I would like to bring it to your knowledge that there are several complaints have been made against the behaivour of receptionists, and seating arrangement.

It is further added here that some suggestion we have recieved to change the colour of carpet as well as it is not matching with the theme of office.

I would also like to bring it to your attention that reception area plays a significant influence in creating a positive first impression on visitors, and it is important to leave an indelible imprints on our staff members as well.

Firstly, arrange a team meeting especially with receptionists and re-educate them according to the client needs. Moreover, exchange the old furniture with the advanced technological furniture such as massage chair, and also change the interior with the

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the main points by mentioning complaints about receptionists’ behaviour, seating, and the carpet, explaining the area’s role in creating a first impression, and proposing staff training and new furniture. These are relevant ideas, but the suggestions are not fully developed: for example, explain what specific behaviour should change and how the seating or carpet should be improved. The final suggestion is cut off at “change the interior with the”, so the reader cannot understand the intended improvement. The letter also lacks a clear closing request or sign-off. Completing the recommendations and making the purpose of the letter more explicit would make the response more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a generally understandable order: it introduces the issue, lists complaints, explains the reception area’s importance, and then offers recommendations. Paragraph breaks help separate these functions. However, progression is weakened by formulaic transitions such as “It is further added here” and “I would also like to bring it to your attention,” which make the letter sound repetitive rather than naturally connected. The final sentence stops mid-idea, leaving the recommendations unfinished and the letter without a conclusion. Use simpler links, group related complaints together, and finish with a clear request to discuss or implement the changes. A conventional closing would also help the letter feel complete.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for the topic, including “first impression,” “receptionists,” “seating arrangement,” and “interior.” Some attempts at more formal or less common language are effective, but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “ample of complaints,” “bring it to your knowledge,” and “indelible imprints.” There are also spelling errors in “behaivour” and “recieved.” These do not prevent the reader from understanding the main message, but they reduce precision and naturalness. Prefer familiar, accurate collocations over elaborate phrases, and proofread spelling. For example, “many complaints have been received” is clearer and more idiomatic than “receiving ample of complaints.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “that” and “as well as.” However, errors occur often enough to make some sentences awkward or difficult to follow. For example, “there are several complaints have been made” combines two verb structures; write “several complaints have been made.” In “some suggestion we have recieved,” the plural noun needs an appropriate determiner and form, such as “some suggestions we have received.” The sentence beginning “Firstly, arrange a team meeting” also shifts into an imperative without clearly establishing who should act. The final sentence is incomplete. Focus on complete sentence structures, consistent subjects and verbs, and accurate articles and plurals.

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