What band is this answer?

Approximately Band 5.0, rated against the public IELTS band descriptors.

Are the corrections from a real examiner?

They are marked by a former IELTS examiner and examiner trainer, using the same criteria used in the test.

How do I see the corrections?

Click any highlighted word or phrase to see what is wrong with it and what it should be. Show all corrections opens every one at once.

Is this a real candidate answer?

Yes. It is reproduced exactly as written, errors included, which is why it is more useful than a model answer.

How long should I spend on this task?

About 20 minutes, writing at least 150 words.

Band 5

IELTS General Training Task 1 Band 5 sample answer 2

A real candidate answer at Band 5, with every examiner correction marked on it. 18 corrections.

Get your writing marked By a former IELTS examiner and examiner trainer

A Band 5 answer is not a bad answer. It is an answer where the meaning mostly gets through but the errors are frequent enough to interrupt the reader.

Band 5 is where the largest number of candidates sit, and it is the band with the clearest route out, because the problems are visible rather than subtle.

Click any highlighted word to see the correction. The commentary at the foot of the page explains what holds the answer at this band overall.

The task

The Task 1 letter question

Note the three bullet points and who the letter is addressed to.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

A family member is coming to stay with you. He/she will be arriving by train in the morning, but you won't be home until the evening.

Write a letter to your relative. In your letter:

explain arrangements you have made for them to have keys and get into the house
tell your relative how to get from the train station to your house
say when you will be home and suggest what you could do together that evening

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear…

Write at least 150 words.

The answer

The letter as the candidate wrote it

Reproduced exactly as written, errors included.

0 of 18

Dear Sam,

It a great pleasure to see you after long time. I am looking forward to a pleasant time with you. I would like to to up the railway station

I will arrange friend Sasha to and drop you my house. He will be area with your name tag. I hope you will be able to identify him easily collect the key from .

I will reach home by , and I we would be able to go to Hammersmith Gardens, located in the centre of city, which is a popular tourist spot in this region. After that, we can have dinner in the Barino hotel with my family and friends.

You are warmly welcome to my .

Regards,

Gill Griffiths

(158 words)

Examiner comments

Why this is a Band 5 General Training Task 1 answer

The overall verdict, criterion by criterion.

The word count is good, and the basic requirements of the Task have been answered.

However, the tone and structure is often not suitable for the context of a letter to a friend ( 'I would like to convey my inability ').

There are areas where the sentences need to flow more fluidly (' I hope you will be able to identify him easily. You can collect the key from Sasha. ').

The grammar is often incorrect or not logical (' It is a pleasure ' referring to a future event) and there are problems with some of the vocabulary (' welcome to my homely ').

The other General Training Task 1 band samples

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