Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-07

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 Editor,

I am writing this letter to show a disappointment that how can some popular magazine gave such a misleading information. I read your yesterday article which is published on 25 april 2026. I sas shooked that how you gave incorrect information about my town.

Your magazine is extremely popular and whenever i got a time i always read it. Firstly they lied about the history. Secondly they give some rape stories about yesterday which is not in our colony but next to ours. So, i will suggest you whenever you publish anything on your article please varify it then publish it.

After your article got published so many of my friends called me and asking about the story. So what if there is a bomblast story, if you punlished any this kind of story my loved ones obviously panicked so do justice with your work. It is good for your reputation as well as no one will face inconvience.

I hope you will look forward to it. I shall be grateful to you.

Yours faithfully,

Zohra

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

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 superficial. The tone is occasionally inappropriate for a formal letter to an editor, particularly the use of emotive language like 'rape stories' and 'bomblast story,' which lacks the professional register required for this task. While the purpose is clear, the ideas are not fully extended or supported in a way that demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the task requirements. The response meets the minimum requirements but lacks the depth and professional polish expected at higher bands.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate. For example, the transition 'Firstly they lied... Secondly they give...' is simplistic. There are also issues with referencing; the use of 'they' is ambiguous as it is unclear if it refers to the magazine or the article writers. The flow between sentences is occasionally disjointed, and the logical progression of ideas is hindered by the informal and somewhat erratic sentence structure. Improved use of linking words and clearer pronoun referencing would significantly enhance the coherence of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and often repetitive. The student relies on basic phrasing such as 'show a disappointment,' 'gave such a misleading information,' and 'do justice with your work.' There are several errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'sas shooked' (was shocked) and 'varify it then publish it.' The use of 'rape stories' and 'bomblast' is not only stylistically inappropriate for a formal letter but also demonstrates a lack of control over register. To reach a higher band, the student needs to expand their range of vocabulary and focus on using words that are appropriate for a formal, professional context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are significant issues with verb tense consistency ('is published,' 'gave,' 'got published'), article usage ('a disappointment,' 'a misleading information'), and sentence structure ('I am writing this letter to show a disappointment that how can some popular magazine gave...'). The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple or poorly constructed complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the response from reaching a higher band score.

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

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