Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-07-25

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have just read an article in an international travel magazine which contained some information about your town that is incorrect.

Write a letter to the editor of the magazine. In your letter

• correct the information in the article
• explain why it is important for the magazine to give correct information
• suggest what the magazine should do about this situation

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing regarding the incorrect information about my town in your magazine.

Firstly, my hometown is very famous due to its significance history. The information regarding its built date is incorrect because your magazine printed 3rd of may 1997 but its 23rd of July 1997. Moreover, the map is also cause some confusion among visitors.

It is very important to fix these errors in your magazine because it misguide tourists about the location and history. In addition,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is only 80 words long. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While you have attempted to correct the information and explain the importance of accuracy, the third bullet point regarding a suggested solution is entirely missing. The ideas provided are underdeveloped due to the premature ending of the letter. To improve, you must ensure all three bullet points are fully expanded and that you meet the minimum length requirement to allow for a complete development of your arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter shows a basic attempt at organization with a clear opening. However, the abrupt ending prevents a logical progression of ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', and 'In addition' are used, but the text lacks sufficient length to demonstrate a wider range of linking words or effective paragraphing. The flow is interrupted by the incomplete nature of the response, which makes the overall structure feel fragmented rather than a cohesive piece of correspondence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic. Phrases like 'very famous' and 'very important' are repetitive and lack the precision expected at higher bands. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'significance history' (should be 'significant history') and 'built date' (should be 'date of construction'). To achieve a higher score, you should aim for more varied and sophisticated vocabulary that is appropriate for a formal letter to an editor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains several grammatical errors that affect clarity. For example, 'its 23rd of July' should be 'it is the 23rd of July', and 'the map is also cause some confusion' should be 'the map also causes some confusion'. The sentence structures are relatively simple, and the lack of length limits the opportunity to demonstrate a range of complex grammatical structures. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors in such a short text indicates a need for more careful proofreading and practice with verb tenses and subject-verb agreement.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.