Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-10
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 Mr. Shah,
I hope you are fine, I am writing this letter because of i want to working in the head office of our company as it is based on USA. I like to apply there for half year.
Sir as Fox company is making plastic and i handle all accounting work. Moreover i heard from news that Fox company USA head office right now offering to free webinar and six month work experience in accounting and they will teach from scrach. As you know sir We have facing issue of certain account problem it is best for me to go there and learn that activity.
Moreover , If i get a change to go there i will do my work in online and if anything happends i already teach my work staff how to handle that situation. So from USA i will do my work and support my staff if need.
Furthermore, If i want to apply that position i need your permison and also your reference as a manager so i can get high change of getting that position.
I await your prompt response,
Your Sincerely,
Ayush Prajapati
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the plan for managing current duties, and the request for managerial support. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the explanation regarding the 'webinar' and 'accounting problems' is slightly confusing and lacks professional clarity. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, though the expression of ideas could be more precise to ensure the manager fully understands the value of this opportunity. The purpose is clear, but the justification for the six-month duration could be more persuasively articulated to ensure the request is taken seriously.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of the request. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'If' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions feel mechanical, and the flow between sentences is occasionally interrupted by grammatical errors. For example, the transition between the reason for the request and the plan for work coverage is a bit abrupt. While the paragraphing is sufficient, the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer back to their antecedents.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the sophistication expected at higher bands. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'I hope you are fine' (a bit informal for a business letter) and 'teach from scrach'. The student relies on basic vocabulary and makes some errors in word choice, such as 'high change' instead of 'high chance' and 'permison' instead of 'permission'. While the meaning is generally clear, the range is limited, and the student struggles with accurate collocations related to professional business contexts.
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 the flow of reading. Examples include 'because of i want to working', 'We have facing issue', and 'if anything happends'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the student attempts complex sentences, these are often marred by errors in verb tense, subject-verb agreement, and word order. To improve, the student should focus on basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors in tense consistency and spelling.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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