Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-12
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 Sir,
I hope you are doing well. Today I would like to ask you for your help. I would like to work for six months in our company's head office because, I want to gain more experience and information related to my field. I want to apply for higher position in our company, I believe it needs more knowledge about this field.
I promise I always will handle my all the tasks that related to this location. As always I would try to complete them on time. I will be in touch of my co-workers and help them to submit everything on time.
I already aplied for another position in head office. May be they will contact you to for references regarding my attendence and performance. I hope you you would accept my request and provide your honest review.
Your decison can help me to decide my future.
kind regards
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
You address the main purpose of the letter: you explain that the head-office placement could build experience and knowledge for a higher position, and you describe staying in contact with colleagues and completing your current tasks. You also ask your manager to accept the request and provide a reference. However, the explanation of how your work would be managed while away is not fully clear: “handle my all the tasks that related to this location” does not explain whether you would continue remotely, transfer duties, or coordinate with the local team. The request for help arranging the six-month placement could also be more direct and specific. Developing these points would make the response more complete.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The letter has a generally understandable sequence: it introduces the request, gives a reason, explains how you would handle work, and ends by asking for support. Paragraphing helps separate these points. However, progression is weakened by abrupt shifts, particularly from describing your work arrangements to saying you have already applied for another position. The connection between that application and the requested six-month placement is not made explicit. Some linking is also mechanical or unclear, such as “As always” and “Your decision can help me to decide my future.” Use clearer transitions and make the relationship between each idea explicit; a more focused closing paragraph would also help the letter flow naturally.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the basic purpose, with relevant expressions such as “gain more experience,” “higher position,” and “references regarding my … performance.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations sound unnatural, which sometimes makes the intended meaning less clear. For example, “information related to my field” is vague in this context, while “in touch of my co-workers” does not express the intended relationship naturally. There are also spelling errors in “aplied,” “attendence,” and “decison.” Aim for more precise workplace language and check spelling carefully. More natural phrasing would make your request sound clearer and more professional.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a reason clause with “because” and a conditional idea in “I believe it needs more knowledge.” The main message remains understandable, but errors in sentence construction and verb forms are noticeable. For example, “I want to apply for higher position in our company, I believe…” joins two independent clauses with a comma, and “I already aplied” is missing the auxiliary verb “have.” In “I promise I always will handle,” the adverb and verb are awkwardly ordered, while “tasks that related” needs a verb form such as “are related.” Practise accurate clause joining, auxiliary verbs, and article use, while retaining your attempts at longer sentences.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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