Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-28
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
You have seen an advertisement from a couple, who live in Australia, for someone to teach their two children your language for a year. Write a letter to the couple. In your letter
- explain why you think you would be suitable for the job
- say what else you could do for the family
- give your reasons for wanting the job
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear .................. ,
Student answer (Band 5.5)
Dear Parents,
This letter is regarding the teaching your two children my language for a year. I think I am the best applicant for this role.
I would like to begin with my experience and knowledge of my study in language. I have done masters from university with major in language. I am currently working in local university as a assistance professor. I think i will be best match for this roll.
Moreover, I have a very good knowledge in science as well. I can teach your kid science as well as my local language. I am interested in this because of my dream of buying a car. I have been saving money for this purpose and this job can help me a lot achieving that goal.
I the end, I just want to say that I have both skills and teaching expertise to be a good teacher.
Thank You,
ABC
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The letter covers all three bullet points: your suitability, additional help, and reasons for applying. However, the development of these points is quite thin. For example, stating your reason for wanting the job is simply 'my dream of buying a car' is too blunt and lacks the professional tone expected in a formal application. To improve, you should elaborate on how your teaching experience specifically benefits the children and provide a more professional motivation for seeking the position. The tone is also slightly inconsistent; while it attempts to be formal, it feels a bit abrupt and lacks the polite, persuasive language typically used in a cover letter.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The letter is organised into short paragraphs, which is appropriate for a formal letter. You use basic cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'In the end' to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. The transition between your professional qualifications and your personal financial goal is quite jarring. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that your sentences flow more naturally into one another. The paragraphing is sufficient, but the overall structure could be improved by creating a more cohesive narrative that connects your skills to the family's needs.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You use repetitive phrasing such as 'teach your kid' and 'my local language'. There are also some errors in word choice, such as 'assistance professor' (should be 'assistant professor') and 'done masters' (should be 'completed a master's degree'). To improve, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to education and professional communication. Using more varied adjectives and verbs would help demonstrate a wider range of vocabulary. Currently, the language is functional but lacks the sophistication required for higher band scores.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The letter contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the quality of the writing. Examples include 'regarding the teaching your two children' (should be 'regarding teaching your two children'), 'major in language' (should be 'a major in language'), and 'I am currently working in local university' (missing an article: 'a local university'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and capitalization issues, such as the lowercase 'i' in 'I think i will'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, they occur frequently enough to limit your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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