Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-17

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 4.5)

In some areas of the United States, there is a rule that teenagers are not allowed to go outside after a certain time at night without an adult. This rule is made mainly for the safety of young people. In my opinion, I agree with this idea to some extent because it can protect teenagers, although it can also create some problems.

One main advantage of having a curfew is that it can keep teenagers safe from dangerous situations. At night, there is more chance of teenagers becoming a victim of crime or getting into an accident. If they have to come back home before a specific time, parents can feel more relaxed about their children. For example, teenagers who stay outside very late can sometimes meet with bad people or become involved in activities which are not suitable for them. Therefore, a reasonable curfew can help to reduce these risks.

However, strict curfews can also have some disadvantages. Teenagers are becoming adults and they need to learn how to make their own decisions. If parents or authorities always control when they can go outside, they may not develop enough responsibility. For instance, some teenagers may have a part-time job, attend evening classes or visit their friends, and they might need to stay outside after the curfew time. In these situations, a strict rule can cause problems for responsible teenagers.

In conclusion, I believe that curfews can be useful for protecting teenagers from danger, especially during late hours. However, these rules should not be too strict because teenagers also need freedom to develop their responsibility. A balance between safety and independence would be a better approach.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 1.0

The candidate has written an essay about adolescent curfews rather than the required General Training Task 1 letter to a manager requesting a six-hour or six-month work relocation. Consequently, the response is completely off-topic for the prompt provided. According to the task requirements, the writer needed to explain why they want to work in the company's head office for six months, outline how their current work could be covered while away, and ask for assistance in arranging the transfer. None of these bullet points have been addressed, as the content focuses entirely on a general social issue of curfews for teenagers. Because the response fails to address any part of the actual task prompt, it cannot receive a passing score for Task Achievement and is awarded a band 1.0 based on the severe misunderstanding of the prompt requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

Despite being completely off-topic for the prompt, the text itself exhibits a clear and logical internal structure. The writer employs standard essay conventions, beginning with a clear introduction that states a position ("I agree with this idea to some extent"). Body paragraphs are logically sequenced, with the second paragraph discussing advantages and the third paragraph addressing disadvantages. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as "One main advantage," "However," "For example," and "In conclusion." Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. However, because the text is an essay rather than a letter, the overall format does not align with the task type. Evaluated purely on the language produced, the organizational skills demonstrated warrant a band 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used throughout the response is adequate and appropriate for discussing general topics. The writer successfully incorporates relevant terms such as "curfew," "victim of crime," "part-time job," and "independence." While the range is somewhat limited and relies on fairly common terminology rather than sophisticated or uncommon lexical items, the word choices are generally accurate and natural. There are no notable spelling or word-choice errors that impede understanding. Phrases like "reduce these risks" and "balance between safety and independence" demonstrate clear communication. This performance aligns comfortably with the descriptors for Band 6.0, as the vocabulary is sufficient for the task attempted.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The text demonstrates a reasonable mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The writer successfully uses subordinate clauses and conditional elements, such as "If they have to come back home before a specific time, parents can feel more relaxed" and "Although it can also create some problems." Grammatical accuracy is generally good, with the majority of simple sentences remaining error-free. While there are some minor limitations in structural variety, punctuation and grammar do not interfere with the clarity of the message. The control over basic and moderately complex structures is consistent throughout the response. Therefore, this performance meets the criteria for a band 6.0 in grammatical range and accuracy.

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

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