Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-05
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 Komal,
I hope you are doing well. I advise you to follow your intuition and interest in study firstly that good for your future. I see your interest in same field as my doing master science in mathematics.
Done mathematics in guru Nanke dev university world 7th rank university is great decision for me and for you it's also great. This course is for 2 year it has 4 semesters.at my time in 2015 its cost near about 50,000 rupees per semester and now its fees are about 56,000 rupees.
There are so many universities in India with same course but different fees structure. From all these university GNDU is best because it handsome fees and also provide study materials free off cost. Building of gndu is most based on natural concept so you never feel alone and stressed if you join hostel. because hostel play very great role in Sewa so on weekend you can go home or golden temple.
University also have website so you can apply online or offline depend on you after entrance exam selection you got seat in course. I always helpful for you during course.
your sincerely,
karma
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The letter covers all three bullet points: course details, reasons for recommendation, and application advice. However, the development of these points is somewhat limited. For example, the description of the course is brief, and the advice on the application process is quite vague. While the purpose of the letter is clear, the tone is inconsistent for a letter to a friend, occasionally feeling more like a list of facts. To improve, you should expand on your personal experience with the course and provide more specific, actionable steps for the application process to better engage the reader.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or missing, making the flow between sentences feel disjointed. For instance, the transition between discussing the university building and the hostel life is abrupt. Additionally, some referencing is unclear, such as the phrase 'because hostel play very great role in Sewa'. Improving the use of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in addition') would help create a smoother progression of ideas throughout the letter.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward phrasing or incorrect word choices, such as 'handsome fees' (which usually implies high/expensive, whereas you likely meant 'reasonable') and 'most based on natural concept'. The repetition of basic words limits the impact of your writing. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more natural collocations and a wider range of vocabulary related to university life and academic processes, while ensuring that the words chosen accurately convey your intended meaning.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity, such as 'I see your interest in same field as my doing master science' and 'I always helpful for you'. Issues with articles (e.g., 'in 2015 its cost'), subject-verb agreement, and tense consistency are common. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence construction and proofreading for basic errors would be highly beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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