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
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 Komal,
I hope you are doing well. I read your letter about going on a camping holiday. I wish you all the best for the trip and enjoy every moment. For this trip bring some snacks and clothes as well as take some gaming stuff. Also bring the sunscreen to avoid sun tan and drink water to keep yourself hydrated.
I would like to go with you but it is impossible for me because of my cousin's wedding on that day. My family cousin wants to me with her on her special day. But I promise next time I will definitely make plan to go for this trip. So I suggest you to enjoy this holiday without stress and other household chores. Becuase this trip will give you memory and relieve from all the work.
Best regards,
Preet.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the development of the required points. While you addressed the three bullet points—explaining why your friend would enjoy camping, describing disadvantages, and declining the invitation—the content is underdeveloped. For instance, you mention 'snacks' and 'sunscreen' but fail to explain why these are relevant to the camping experience. Furthermore, you did not actually explain why your friend would enjoy camping; you only provided a list of items to bring. To improve, ensure you fully expand on each bullet point with descriptive details and personal anecdotes to meet the length requirement and provide a more comprehensive response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The letter is organized into short paragraphs, which is appropriate for the task. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed. You use basic cohesive devices like 'Also' and 'But', but the flow between sentences is often abrupt. For example, the transition from suggesting items to bring to declining the invitation lacks a smooth logical bridge. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and phrases (e.g., 'Furthermore', 'On the other hand', 'Consequently') to connect your ideas more fluidly and create a more cohesive structure throughout the letter.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for a simple letter but lacks the range and precision expected for higher bands. You rely on basic terms such as 'gaming stuff', 'make plan', and 'give you memory'. There are also some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'My family cousin wants to me with her', which is grammatically awkward and lexically imprecise. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to travel and leisure, and ensure that your word choices are natural and contextually appropriate for a friendly letter.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentences, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'Becuase this trip will give you memory and relieve from all the work' (incorrect word form and spelling) and 'My family cousin wants to me with her' (missing verb/preposition). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structures are often repetitive. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like subject-verb agreement and word order. Increasing the variety of complex structures will also help demonstrate better grammatical control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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