Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-11-04

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 Jenny,

How are you doing? I am writing this letter to let you know that your decision of embarking on a summer camping holiday is a great one and I believe you really need it to unwind from the stress of work and family.

Although, its a lovely idea but be prepared for certain challenges. Since its summer, the wheather many be unpredictably warm, so ensure to get all the suitable wears you will need.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The opening gives a relevant reason your friend might enjoy camping: it could help her “unwind from the stress of work and family.” You also begin to mention a disadvantage, namely unpredictable summer weather, and offer practical advice about suitable clothing. However, the response is incomplete: it does not explain other aspects of why camping would be enjoyable, and it never says whether you would go with Jenny this summer. The letter is also substantially below the required 150 words, so there is not enough development to address the three bullet points fully. Add specific benefits and drawbacks, then clearly accept or decline the invitation and explain why.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The letter has a recognisable opening and moves from a positive view of camping to a possible difficulty, so the basic sequence is understandable. The greeting and direct address to Jenny also suit the informal letter format. However, the response ends abruptly after the clothing advice, with no closing or sign-off, and the ideas are not developed into clear paragraphs. The transition “Although, its a lovely idea but” is confusing because “although” and “but” duplicate the contrast. Use a simple link such as “However, there are a few challenges to consider,” and organise the letter into paragraphs covering enjoyment, disadvantages, and your decision about joining her.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some appropriate vocabulary for the topic and purpose, including “embarking on a summer camping holiday,” “unwind,” and “challenges.” These choices communicate the general message and show an attempt to use more than basic everyday language. However, several expressions are awkward or inaccurate: “your decision of embarking” is less natural than “your decision to go,” and “suitable wears” is not the correct expression for clothing. “Wheather” is also misspelled, and “lovely idea” is rather general. Aim for accurate, natural collocations and add specific camping vocabulary, such as sleeping bag, campsite, fresh air, or limited facilities, to make the advice more precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes both simple sentences and attempts at more complex structures. For example, “I believe you really need it to unwind…” uses a subordinate clause, while “Since its summer…” gives a reason. Meaning is generally understandable, but errors and awkward construction remain. In “Although, its a lovely idea but be prepared…,” the contrast markers are incorrectly combined, and “its” needs an apostrophe when it means “it is.” The sentence beginning “Since its summer” also needs clearer punctuation and a complete main clause. Use a wider range of accurately controlled sentences, and check apostrophes, clause structure, and punctuation when revising.

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