Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-12
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)
Hi sir,
I read your new magazine yesterday which was really interesting and have a lot of knowledge about my town but magazine have some bad points , it’s has wrong town infrastructure which is not good for those people who read this magazine and gathering the knowledge about my town .
Moreover, in this magazine, I read about my town like its just a small town , not have sufficient place for gardening , picnic and its really congested area which is totally wrong about my town because i live here about 30 years and i did not find any kind of problems in my area , its really peace area and all people have good sense of humours they talk with the people with good manners .
I am really thankful for your magazine editor u just sort this problems in upcoming days so people can enhance the knowledge about my town they learn its really good place to live have good buildings , excellent all kinds of service .
Your faithfully
Ashmit
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 response addresses all three bullet points of the task: correcting the information, explaining the importance of accuracy, and suggesting a solution. However, the development of these points is somewhat limited. For example, the explanation of why accuracy is important is brief and lacks depth. The tone is also inconsistent; while it is a formal letter, the opening 'Hi sir' is inappropriate for a formal complaint to an editor. To improve, ensure that each point is expanded with more detail and that the register remains formal throughout the letter.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The letter is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and sometimes mechanical. For instance, the transition 'Moreover' is used, but other connections between sentences are weak, leading to a somewhat disjointed flow. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'u just sort this problems', which lacks a formal link to the previous ideas. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring clear logical progression between sentences would enhance the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected at higher bands. There are several instances of awkward phrasing or incorrect word choices, such as 'gathering the knowledge', 'peace area', and 'good sense of humours'. These errors do not prevent understanding, but they do limit the effectiveness of the communication. To reach a higher band, focus on using more natural collocations and precise terminology related to travel writing and formal correspondence.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures, and there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Examples include 'magazine have some bad points', 'it’s has wrong town infrastructure', and 'i live here about 30 years'. There is also a lack of consistent punctuation and capitalization. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction significantly impacts the overall quality. Increasing the use of complex structures and proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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