Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-28
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 Jackie,
How are you? I am delighted to you are going on a picnic for the first time this summer. I am writing in response to you go to outside to relax your mind from your demanding job.
Firstly, I know that you like clicking picture of atmosphere, and it is really good visible from the mountain. Please do not forget your camera at home. Otherwise, you miss clicking picture of the natural beauty.
Secondly, you should also check weather before going to the trip and also carry sunscreen cream to protect your skin from Uv rays of the sun.
Finally, I don't come with you as you know that we always go outside to celebrate my brother birthday in this month. I really apologize for this inconvenience.
I hope my advice will be helpful. Please let me know what you decide, and I wish you all the best.
Kind regards,
Jass.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The candidate has addressed all parts of the prompt, although there is a notable confusion between camping and a picnic, as seen in the phrase "you are going on a picnic for the first time this summer". Despite this misinterpretation of the core activity, the letter covers why the friend might enjoy the trip, outlines disadvantages such as weather and safety precautions, and explicitly states whether the writer can join. The ideas are generally relevant, but the task fulfilment is slightly hindered by the misunderstanding of 'camping' as 'picnic', meaning the content does not fully align with the specific nuances of camping. Nevertheless, the main bullet points are all attempted and discernible, justifying a band 5.5.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The letter follows a clear informal letter structure with an appropriate greeting and sign-off. Paragraphing is used to separate different points, such as the reasons for enjoyment, disadvantages, and the final decision about joining. However, the progression between ideas is sometimes abrupt, and cohesive devices are limited or occasionally awkward, such as repeating 'Firstly' and 'Secondly' without smooth transitions. Referencing is generally clear, though the overall flow is occasionally interrupted by unnatural phrasings and mechanical links. Paragraphing is adequate for the task, leading to a solid band 6.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is relatively basic and repetitive, with several lexical inaccuracies. For instance, the phrase "clicking picture of atmosphere" is unnatural, and confusing "camping" with "picnic" demonstrates a limited grasp of topic-specific vocabulary. There are also collocation issues, such as "carry sunscreen cream". While the writer attempts some less common words like "demanding job" and "inconvenience", frequent word-choice errors and a restricted range constrain the score. Communication remains clear despite these limitations, making this a clear band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but grammatical accuracy is quite low throughout the text. There are notable errors in verb complementation and tense usage, such as "I am delighted to you are going", "you go to outside", and "you miss clicking picture". Prepositional errors also occur, such as "check weather before going to the trip". While basic sentences are generally understandable, attempts at more complex structures frequently result in noticeable errors that cause some difficulty for the reader. This performance aligns with the band 5.0 descriptors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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