Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-11-02

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,

I am writing with respect to your request on a camping trip this summer. I think its a great idea. However, proper planning and having a companion would enhance a successful camping holiday. You would need someone to communicate with you.

I would like to inform you that, there are few disadvantages connected to camping during summer, as this is your first time. Dehydration could affect you, If you do not carry enough fluid or water. Also, do not expect to see local shops or restaurant to buy things or food. And, deliveries would be difficult if you choose to do online shopping. Therefore, package all you would need for the duration of stay.

I would have enjoyed camping with you, if you had asked for my presence. camping with an experience person make the trip easier. In contrast, I have been given special assignment at my work place this summer. I will not be avalaible.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address the three requested points: you give reasons camping may suit John, mention practical drawbacks, and explain that you cannot join him because of a work assignment. However, the positive case is not fully explained: “I think its a great idea” is followed mainly by advice about planning and having a companion, rather than specific reasons he would enjoy the experience. The disadvantages are more concrete, especially dehydration and limited access to shops, but the advice to pack supplies could be linked more clearly to these risks. Your decision about joining is understandable, though “I would have enjoyed camping with you, if you had asked” makes the response sound conditional rather than directly answering whether you would like to go this summer. Develop these ideas more clearly and directly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a coherent overall arrangement: it opens with a response to John, moves to disadvantages, and ends with your availability. Paragraphing helps the reader follow these stages, and connectors such as “However,” “Also,” and “Therefore” show relationships between ideas. Some links are mechanical or unclear, though. “And, deliveries would be difficult” is an awkward continuation, while “In contrast” does not clearly contrast with the preceding statement that you would have enjoyed going. The opening also shifts quickly from enthusiasm to planning advice without explaining the connection. Use transitions that express the intended relationship and make the progression from enjoyment, to drawbacks, to your answer about joining more explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main points, including relevant terms such as “Dehydration,” “duration,” and “special assignment.” There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, for example “with respect to your request,” although this sounds less natural in a friendly letter. Several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “carry enough fluid or water” is repetitive, “package all you would need” does not naturally mean prepare supplies, and “an experience person” uses the wrong form. Spelling errors such as “avalaible” also reduce accuracy. Aim for natural, precise expressions suited to writing to a friend, and check spelling and word forms before finishing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including conditional forms such as “If you do not carry enough fluid or water” and “if you had asked.” The main message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors and punctuation problems are noticeable. For example, “there are few disadvantages” needs an article, and “camping with an experience person make the trip easier” has errors in both the adjective form and subject–verb agreement. Capitalisation is inconsistent in “If” after a comma and “camping” at the start of a sentence. The conditional “I would have enjoyed … if you had asked” also does not clearly express your current willingness. Review articles, agreement, sentence boundaries, and the forms of conditional sentences.

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

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