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 that you are going on a picnic for the first time this summer. I am writing in response that you are going outside to relax your mind from your demanding job.

Firstly, I know that you like talking picture of the atmosphere, and it is really clearly visible from the mountain. Please do not leave your camera at home. Otherwise, you will miss talking picture of the natural beauty.

Secondly, you should also check the weather before going on a trip and also carry sunscreen to protect your skin from UV rays of the sun.

Finally, I won't come with you as you know that we always go outside to celebrate my brother's birthday this month. I sincerely 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

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response attempts to cover the required points in the prompt, but it misinterprets the core activity from 'camping holiday' to 'picnic' in the opening sentence ('going on a picnic for the first time this summer'). Furthermore, the discussion of disadvantages is weak, focusing only on carrying sunscreen and checking the weather, which are precautions rather than true disadvantages of camping. The third bullet point regarding whether you would like to go camping with your friend is addressed, stating that the writer cannot come due to a family birthday celebration. Because the main activity is confused with a picnic and disadvantages are underdeveloped, this falls under band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter maintains a recognizable structure with an appropriate opening ('Dear Jackie,') and a natural sign-off. Paragraphing is used to separate different ideas, such as photography and weather advice. However, the logical progression is occasionally hindered by abrupt transitions and confusing phrasing, such as 'I am writing in response that you are going outside...'. Cohesive devices are minimal and sometimes repetitive. Referencing is mostly clear, but the overall organization shows some mechanical elements. This corresponds to a band 6.0 performance.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive. The student uses phrases like 'relax your mind', 'natural beauty', and 'check the weather'. There are noticeable lexical errors and awkward collocations, most notably confusing 'camping holiday' with 'picnic', and repeatedly using the incorrect collocation 'talking picture' instead of 'taking pictures'. While the vocabulary is adequate to convey the general message, these errors and the limited range place it at a band 5.0 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'I am delighted that you are going...' and 'Please do not leave your camera at home. Otherwise, you will miss...'. However, there are recurring grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, including 'I am writing in response that you are going outside' and 'know that you like talking picture'. Punctuation and basic sentence construction are generally manageable, and errors rarely impede overall communication, supporting a band 6.0 score.

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

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