Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-22

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 Paul,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing this letter to show my interest working in the head office of the company in another country for six months.

In want to work in company's head office, which is situated in London. The reason behind to work over there is to get more experience working along with senior colleagues.

I already asked from my assistant to manage my work after me. I explained everything to him regarding current projects and assignments. Even, I have finished most part of my work and placed it in a sequence manner.

I would like to request you to arrange

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is significantly under-length at 108 words. Furthermore, the letter is incomplete; it cuts off abruptly after the third bullet point, failing to provide a closing or a formal sign-off. While the response attempts to address the three bullet points—explaining the reason for the request, suggesting a handover plan, and asking for help—the ideas are underdeveloped due to the premature ending. To improve, you must ensure all parts of the prompt are fully addressed and that the letter is completed with a standard closing.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter uses basic paragraphing to separate the different points required by the prompt. However, the progression of ideas is hindered by the incomplete nature of the text. Cohesive devices are limited; for example, 'The reason behind to work over there' is an awkward transition. The lack of a concluding paragraph and a proper sign-off makes the overall structure feel disjointed and unfinished. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words such as 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in addition' to connect your ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the range and precision expected for a professional letter. There are several instances of unnatural phrasing, such as 'I already asked from my assistant' (should be 'I have asked my assistant') and 'placed it in a sequence manner' (should be 'in an organized manner'). The range is limited to basic, everyday language. To achieve a higher band, focus on using more professional collocations and avoiding repetitive sentence structures.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors that affect clarity. For instance, 'I am writing this letter to show my interest working' should be 'interest in working.' The phrase 'In want to work' is a clear error for 'I want to work.' There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the existing sentences are mostly simple or contain errors in preposition usage and verb forms. To improve, practice using a mix of complex sentences and proofread carefully to ensure subject-verb agreement and correct prepositional phrases.

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

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