Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-04
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
You work for an international company, and would like to spend six months working in its head office in another country. Write a letter to your manager. In your letter
- explain why you want to work in the company's head office for six months
- say how your work could be done while you are away
- ask for his/her help in arranging it
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ................. ,
Student answer (Band 5.0)
Dear Mr. Williams
I'm writing this request to ask you if possible to spend the next six months to work in ower head office in UK or USA. I want to try a new experience in a new country. I have been working in Canada since 15 years ,now after my wife passaway since 2 months I feel that I want to spend more time out of the country.
Regarding my work my colleague Asam accept to cover my office duties and responsabilites while I'm away. mostly of the tasks I will cover them in distance, So this will not affect my work.
I need your help in ananging this transformation regarding the request aproved , new location and provide company accommodation for me.
waiting for your prompt response and thank you for considering my request.
yours sincerly,
Manel Riahi
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the coverage of duties, and the request for assistance. However, the letter is under the 150-word minimum, which negatively impacts the development of ideas. The explanation for the transfer is somewhat brief, and the request for help is slightly vague, lacking professional detail. To improve, you should expand on how your specific skills would benefit the head office and provide more concrete details regarding the transition process. Because the length requirement was not met, the task is not fully developed, limiting the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter is organized into short paragraphs, which is appropriate for a formal letter. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link sentences smoothly; for example, the transition between your personal situation and your work duties is abrupt. The use of referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'regarding the request aproved', which makes the sentence structure difficult to follow. Improving the use of linking words like 'furthermore', 'consequently', or 'in addition' would help the flow of the letter significantly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally basic and repetitive. There are several spelling errors, such as 'ower' (our), 'responsabilites' (responsibilities), 'ananging' (arranging), and 'aproved' (approved). Additionally, some word choices are inaccurate or unnatural, such as 'transformation' instead of 'transfer' or 'relocation'. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the frequent errors and limited range of vocabulary prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on learning correct spellings of professional terminology and using more precise collocations suitable for a business context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'since 15 years' (should be 'for 15 years'), 'wife passaway since 2 months' (should be 'wife passed away two months ago'), and 'mostly of the tasks' (should be 'most of the tasks'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization and missing commas. While the reader can understand the intent, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction is a significant issue.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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