Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-11-12

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

A friend of yours is thinking about applying for the same course that you did at university. He/She has asked for your advice about studying this subject. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter

• give details of the course you took at the university
• explain why you recommend the university
• give some advice about how to apply

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear .................. ,

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear Farrukh,

I hope you are doing well. I was very happy to hear that you are thinking about applying for the same course that I did at university. I am writing to give you some details and advice.

I highly recommend this university because the teachers are very helpful and experienced. The university has a good library, modern computer labs and a peaceful environment for study.

Moreover, the degree from this university is very valuable for jobs in Pakistan and abroad.

For applying, my advice is to visit the university website and fill the online

form before the deadline. You will need your matric and Fsc result cards,

CNIC and photographs. Also, prepare well for the entry test, because it is a little difficult.

I am sure you will enjoy this course. If you need any more help, please let me know.

Best wishes

X . Y . Z

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The letter is appropriately addressed to your friend and gives useful reasons for recommending the university, including its helpful teachers, facilities, peaceful study environment, and the value of its degree. You also provide practical application advice, such as checking the website, submitting documents, and preparing for the entry test. However, the first required point—details of the course you took—is not actually explained; you refer to the course but give no information about its subject, content, or duration. The response also contains 142 words, which is 8 words below the required minimum. To address the task more fully, add specific course details and develop the advice with a little more explanation.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The information is generally easy to follow: you open with a friendly introduction, give reasons for recommending the university, explain how to apply, and close politely. Connectors such as “Moreover” and “Also” help show how the points relate. However, the course details are missing, so the letter does not progress through all three requested points, and the recommendation and application advice are grouped together without clear paragraph separation. Use one paragraph for course information, another for the university recommendation, and a third for application advice. This would make the organisation more complete and help the reader distinguish each part of your message.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a suitable range of everyday vocabulary for a friendly advice letter, including “experienced,” “peaceful environment,” “valuable,” and “entry test.” The meaning is clear throughout, and the tone is appropriate. However, some expressions are broad or slightly unnatural, such as “good library” and “very valuable for jobs”; more precise wording would make your advice sound more fluent and informative. “For applying” is also an awkward phrase in this context. Aim to use specific terms for the course and its benefits, and choose natural collocations when describing the application process. This would add flexibility without making the letter overly formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

Your sentences are mostly clear, and you use a mix of simple statements and longer structures, for example, “I was very happy to hear that you are thinking about applying…” and “Also, prepare well for the entry test, because it is a little difficult.” Basic tense and agreement are generally controlled, and punctuation does not prevent understanding. The range is still somewhat limited, however, with many short statements built around simple patterns. The phrase “For applying” is grammatically awkward; a structure such as “To apply, you should…” would be more natural. Try adding a few accurate complex sentences to explain how the course and university meet your friend’s needs.

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