Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-08
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 Simran,
How are you ?I hope you are Doing Well. This is wonderful idea you are going to camping holiday. this give you chance to explore different activities. I like to recommended you to do cooking near river .its very interesting and enjoy different games with your friends . Instead of it, you can enjoy rock climbing , it is wonderful experience and also do some gossips and dance with your friends at night time.
However, there are some animals at night so be aware of it and also pack some of clothes and shoes which is comfortable.
I also like to go camping with you in this summer if I have not very hectic schedule then we will click pictures together and enjoy every moment of life. I hope you will enjoy and collect some memories which is unforgettable for you.I am very excited for you.
Best Wishes,
Arshdeep Kaur.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The letter addresses all three bullet points: the benefits of camping, the disadvantages, and the possibility of joining the friend. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited. For instance, the suggestion to 'do cooking near river' is vague, and the mention of 'some animals' as a disadvantage is not fully explained or developed. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, but the response lacks the depth required for a higher band score. To improve, you should provide more specific details and elaborate on your points to ensure the reader fully understands your perspective.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite basic and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'Instead of it' are used incorrectly to transition between ideas, which disrupts the flow. The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, particularly when moving from the benefits to the disadvantages. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and phrases (e.g., 'furthermore', 'on the other hand', 'consequently') to connect your sentences and paragraphs more naturally and logically.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite simple and repetitive. You rely on basic verbs like 'do' and 'enjoy' throughout the letter. There are also some minor errors in word choice, such as 'do some gossips' (which should be 'have a chat' or 'gossip') and 'this is wonderful idea' (missing an article). To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise vocabulary and idiomatic expressions that are appropriate for an informal letter, while also ensuring that your word choices are grammatically accurate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('this give you chance'), missing articles ('going to camping holiday'), and incorrect sentence structures ('I like to recommended you'). While the meaning is generally clear, these errors are persistent and require the reader to work harder to understand your message. You should focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically ensuring that verbs agree with their subjects and that articles are used correctly. Practicing the use of more complex sentence structures will also help improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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