Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-23
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 4.5)
Dear Vanessa,
I would like to invite you to join us this summer and enjoy camping holiday. As I was thinking how I would spend my summer I plan to contact all of our circle of friends and enjoy together. I hope you join us this summer so we can reunite after a long time of being apart from each other. I also plan to have a small program for us to make our reunion more memorable and unforgettable.
As I plan to spend our summer together I am raising some details of our travel flow. We should have enough allowance to pay our own bills and to buy our own needs. We also contribute on the food that we will be having during our stay. Since we are camping we will also bring our own camping materials and essentials.
I really want to make this summer more special by spending it with all of you. I will really appreciate those who will attend this year summer camp and I hope each of us can give a little time for us to spend it together. See you all this summer!
Sincerely,
Ryan Philip
Your Friend
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 3.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0
The letter is recognisably addressed to a friend and expresses enthusiasm about spending the summer together, but it does not adequately answer the specific task. It never explains why Vanessa herself would enjoy camping, and the disadvantages of camping are not described; instead, the second paragraph focuses on paying bills, food, and bringing equipment. The writer does indicate a wish to spend the summer with friends, but the invitation is framed as a group reunion rather than a clear answer about going camping with Vanessa. These omissions leave the response only partially relevant to the requested points. To improve, give a personal reason she would enjoy the outdoor experience, mention realistic drawbacks such as uncomfortable weather or limited facilities, and clearly say whether you will go with her.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5
The response has a basic letter structure, with an opening, three body paragraphs, and a sign-off. The paragraphs also group related material: the first introduces the summer gathering, while the second discusses arrangements. However, the progression is not consistently clear because the letter shifts from an invitation to a reunion and then to practical costs without developing the camping advice requested. Phrases such as “As I plan to spend our summer together” repeat the earlier idea rather than moving the message forward, and “I hope you join us” is followed by references to “all of you,” making the intended recipient and group less clear. Use paragraphs to address each task point in order, and connect them with clear references to Vanessa and the camping plan.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The writer uses enough everyday vocabulary to communicate a friendly invitation and basic arrangements, including “reunite,” “memorable,” “allowance,” and “essentials.” There is some attempt to use more specific language about a trip, but several choices are unnatural or imprecise, such as “camping holiday,” “travel flow,” and “our own needs.” “Small program” is also unclear in this context. These collocation and word-choice problems make parts of the message less natural, although the general meaning remains understandable. Build a more precise range for describing outdoor activities and drawbacks, and choose familiar, natural combinations—for example, “camping trip,” “travel plans,” and “camping equipment”—rather than translating phrases literally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The letter includes both simple sentences and attempts at longer structures, such as “I hope you join us this summer so we can reunite…” and “Since we are camping we will also bring…”. Most of the message can be followed, but errors in sentence construction and verb forms remain. For example, “As I was thinking how I would spend my summer I plan to contact…” shifts awkwardly from a past progressive clause to a present plan, while “I am raising some details” does not form a clear grammatical expression. There are also article and number issues in “enjoy camping holiday” and “this year summer camp.” Practise keeping tense choices consistent and checking articles and possessives; clearer sentence patterns would make the intended meaning easier to follow.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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