Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-08

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 5.5)

Dear manager,

I wish to inform you that i will be working in the head office In Lagos, for a period of six months.

Where I will be coaching the new employees at the head office, also classes will be held and lot of training to make sure they can work in there various department comfortable.

Also while carrying out my coaching duties ,I will also engage myself in helping the organization in areas that need my assistance.

However, i have also discuss with my working partner to assist ,in any area that I work to make my work smooth, even if am not on duties.

So I will be Grateful if you could also help in arranging the work schedule to keep the company working smoothly .

I will be Grateful, If my humble request is Granted ,so that i can know my next move to the company head office .

Yours faithfully

Blessing Obi

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt: explaining the reason for the request, outlining how work will be managed, and asking for assistance. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited. For example, the explanation of how your work will be covered is vague, mentioning only a 'working partner' without specific details on handover processes. The tone is also somewhat demanding rather than professional; starting with 'I wish to inform you that i will be working' sounds like a statement of fact rather than a request for permission. To improve, ensure your tone is more polite and your explanations are more detailed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is logically organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate. For instance, the transition 'However, i have also discuss' is used incorrectly, as there is no contrast being made. Additionally, the paragraphing is inconsistent, with some sentences feeling disjointed. To achieve a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in addition') and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus that flows naturally into the next.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the professional register required for a formal business letter. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'engage myself in helping' and 'make my work smooth'. The repetition of 'Grateful' and 'work' suggests a limited range of vocabulary. To improve, try to incorporate more precise business terminology and avoid repetitive sentence structures. Focusing on collocations—words that naturally go together in a professional context—will significantly enhance the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede readability. Common issues include incorrect verb tenses (e.g., 'i have also discuss'), capitalization errors (e.g., 'i', 'In Lagos'), and punctuation mistakes. The sentence structures are mostly simple, and the attempts at complex sentences often contain errors, such as the run-on sentence in the second paragraph. To improve, pay close attention to subject-verb agreement and basic punctuation rules. Proofreading your work for capitalization and tense consistency before submitting will help you avoid these common slips.

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

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