Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-07-27

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

A friend of yours is thinking of going on a camping holiday for the first time this summer. He/She has asked for your advice. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter

• explain why you think your friend would enjoy a camping holiday
• describe some possible disadvantages
• say whether you would like to go camping with your friend this summer

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. ,

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear Aman,

I hope you are doing well well. I hear your are going on camping vacation first time in summer.I think it’s best time enjoy the summer and do number of activities though out the camping along with you can learn new activity.

despite this but you need to following some instructions because there is risk of some injury due to activities like if you are going for climbing that time you need to follow all the instructions which said to your instructor . Along with pack your first aid kit and other important things which require for during trip.

It would be best if you go with your friend because it is easy for you also you can enjoy more along with friend . Take care and enjoy summer holidays .

Best wishes ,

Manu

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points, but the development of ideas is quite limited. You explain why camping is enjoyable and mention safety as a disadvantage, but the response lacks depth and detail. Furthermore, the letter is under the 150-word minimum requirement, which significantly impacts the score as the task is not fully completed. To improve, you should expand on your points—for example, by describing specific camping activities or elaborating on why the disadvantages (like lack of comfort or weather) might be challenging for a first-timer. Ensure you provide a more comprehensive response to meet the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into short paragraphs, but the flow between sentences is often disjointed. You use some cohesive devices like 'despite this' and 'along with', but they are sometimes used incorrectly or in a way that makes the sentences feel mechanical. The progression of ideas is clear, but the lack of sophisticated linking words makes the text feel a bit repetitive. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of transition words and ensure that your sentences logically follow one another to create a smoother reading experience.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying on simple phrases like 'do number of activities' and 'enjoy the summer'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'doing a camping vacation'. While the meaning is generally clear, the range is limited, and there is little attempt to use more precise or descriptive language. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to camping (e.g., 'pitching a tent', 'wilderness', 'amenities', 'unpredictable weather') and avoid repeating the same words in close proximity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with articles ('the best time'), subject-verb agreement ('your are'), and sentence structure ('do number of activities though out the camping'). Many sentences are simple, and there is a lack of complex structures. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like missing articles and incorrect verb forms. Increasing the variety of your sentence structures will also help improve your score.

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