Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-28

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 John,

Camping holidays are usually fun especially if you spend the time with your loved ones, rather than being alone. In camping preparations, I suggest that you plan ahead in order for you to be be prepared. First, look for a safe location, once you find a campsite make sure that the said area is safe and that you have permit on doing so. Second, bringing solar panels can be lifesaving. This is useful during nighttime and for you visibility also. Lastly, you should bring enough water and food. Camping can be very fun, but at the same time draining. Water supply can also be limited in some areas but you should still consider when getting tap water.

Stay vigilant at all times. There are wild animals in the wilderness that can see you at night especially with your visibility. You might also attract some thieves especially if you camp around mountainous areas and far from help. The best thing to do here is the make sure everything is locked before sleeping, and make sure to add some do-it-yourself security systems.

I myself is planning to go on camping this mid December. Maybe you could go to camping with me? I have so luch to teach you on tips and tricks on how to survive the wilderness.

Have fun with you camping, and make sure to stay vigilant at all times.

Regards,

Aljohn

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address all three points: you explain that camping can be enjoyable with loved ones, mention risks such as wild animals and theft, and invite John to join you. However, the response only partly fulfils the advice-letter purpose because much of the first paragraph gives preparation instructions rather than explaining why John would enjoy the experience. The disadvantages are also presented in a somewhat alarming way, and the invitation is weakened by saying you plan to go in mid-December rather than this summer. Develop the enjoyment point with a specific benefit, such as time outdoors or shared activities, and make your willingness to go this summer explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The letter has a recognisable structure, with paragraphs for preparation, risks, and your own plans, and sequencing words such as “First,” “Second,” and “Lastly” help organise the advice. However, the overall progression is not consistently focused on the three requested points: the opening moves quickly into a checklist, while the final paragraph shifts to a December trip without resolving the summer invitation. Some links are awkward or unclear, including “but you should still consider when getting tap water.” The repeated warning to “stay vigilant” in both the second paragraph and closing also makes the ending feel repetitive. Use paragraphs that correspond more directly to enjoyment, disadvantages, and your answer about joining John.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of camping vocabulary, including “campsite,” “solar panels,” “wilderness,” and “water supply,” which makes the topic clear. There are also attempts at more specific expressions, such as “do-it-yourself security systems.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, which limits precision: “permit on doing so,” “for you visibility,” and “go to camping” do not express the intended meanings naturally. “Luch” is also a spelling error, and “survive the wilderness” sounds unnecessarily dramatic for friendly advice. Choose familiar, accurate combinations and check spelling; for example, say “get a permit,” “improve visibility,” and “go camping.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including conditional advice (“once you find a campsite, make sure…”) and a relative clause (“that can see you at night”). The main message is generally understandable, but errors in verb forms, agreement, and sentence construction remain noticeable. Examples include “I myself is planning,” where the subject and verb do not agree, and “the best thing to do here is the make sure,” which has an incorrect construction. “I suggest that you plan ahead in order for you to be be prepared” also contains an unnecessary repeated verb. Review subject–verb agreement and proofread for duplicated or extra words. More accurate control of these structures would make the advice easier to follow.

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

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