Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-04
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 Sir,
I hope you're doing well. I have seen an advertisement for teaching a language to two of your children for a year. It is my native language, and I can teach your children as I have also taught my language to other children earlier. Therefore, I know how to handle the kids and teach them with patience as children needs a lot of attention. I can also look after them if you need to go somewhere or I can also teach them other subjects, if they require any help. I had given tuitions therefore I have experience of tutoring. That's why I think I could be the best fit for this role. I want this job, so that I'll be able to pay my university fee and other bills. I don't want to put burden on my family as I have grown up, and I feel like I should earn myself. Looking forward for your positive response.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt: explaining your suitability, offering additional help, and stating your reasons for wanting the job. The tone is generally appropriate for a letter. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, while you mention you have taught children before, providing a specific example or a brief detail about your teaching style would have made your application more persuasive. Additionally, the opening salutation 'Dear Sir' is generic; since the prompt mentions a 'couple', 'Dear Mr and Mrs [Name]' or 'Dear Sir/Madam' would be more accurate. Overall, the response covers the requirements well but could benefit from more depth in the supporting details.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter follows a logical progression, moving from your suitability to additional services and finally your motivation. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Therefore', 'and', and 'as' to link your ideas. However, the paragraphing is non-existent; the entire letter is written as one block of text. To improve, you should separate your ideas into distinct paragraphs—one for each bullet point—to enhance readability and structure. Additionally, some transitions feel slightly repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'I can also'. Using a wider variety of linking words would help the flow of your writing feel more natural and sophisticated.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your message clearly. You use relevant terms like 'native language', 'tutoring', and 'experience'. However, the range is somewhat limited and relies on simple phrasing. There are minor issues with word choice, such as 'I had given tuitions', which is not standard English; 'I have provided private tutoring' would be more natural. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise collocations and less common vocabulary related to childcare or education. The current vocabulary is functional but lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher scores.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occasionally affect the flow, such as 'children needs a lot of attention' (subject-verb agreement error: 'children need') and 'Looking forward for your positive response' (preposition error: 'to'). Additionally, the sentence 'I had given tuitions therefore I have experience' is a run-on sentence that requires better punctuation or a conjunction. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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