Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-18

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 5.0)

Dear Laila,

I am writing to advice you for the summer camping on holiday because it is the first time you go there.

I think you are going to enjoy this camping holiday because there are a lots of activities they are going to make it for you such as races and this is what you prefer.

There are also some disadvantages it could be happened for example there were a lots of insects you sould take your medicine with you.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 81 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While the letter attempts to cover the three bullet points—explaining why the friend would enjoy camping, describing disadvantages, and mentioning a desire to join—the ideas are severely underdeveloped. The explanation of why the friend would enjoy it is vague, and the mention of disadvantages is limited to a single point about insects. Because the response is significantly under-length, it cannot be considered a fully developed answer to the prompt, which limits the score for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter lacks a clear structure. There is no proper paragraphing, and the flow of ideas is disjointed. While there is a basic attempt to address the points, the lack of cohesive devices makes the progression of ideas feel mechanical and abrupt. The transition between the benefits of camping and the disadvantages is sudden, and the concluding point about joining the friend is tacked on without a proper closing or sign-off. To improve, you should use linking words such as 'furthermore,' 'however,' or 'consequently' to connect your ideas and organize your thoughts into distinct paragraphs for each bullet point.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is very basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'going to enjoy' and 'there are a lots of' are used in a way that lacks variety and precision. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'advice' (a noun) used instead of 'advise' (a verb). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to express complex ideas or provide detailed descriptions. To reach a higher band, you need to use a wider range of descriptive adjectives and more precise nouns related to camping, such as 'wilderness,' 'amenities,' or 'unpredictable weather,' rather than relying on simple, everyday language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'I am writing to advice you' (incorrect verb form), 'first time you go there' (tense error), and 'there were a lots of insects' (subject-verb agreement and article usage). The sentence structures are simple and repetitive, lacking the variety required for higher bands. There is a lack of control over basic punctuation and sentence construction. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement, correct verb tenses, and the distinction between nouns and verbs. You should also practice combining simple sentences into more complex structures using relative clauses or conjunctions.

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

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