Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-06

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 5.0)

Dear Geeta,

I hope you're doing well. I'd love to describe you more about my course in this letter.

I pursued health, safety and environment compliance program in the science domaine. It includes basic introduction of environment protocols, geology and safety measures to protect the planet.

If you're taking my suggestions serious, I'll recommend you PAU University which is situated at Ludhiana - Moga road. It is highly prestegious university in which each student eagers to take admission because the teachers are so professionals and experienced.

Entrance exam is mandatory before applying for admission.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 94 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While you have touched upon the three required bullet points—describing the course, recommending the university, and mentioning the application process—the development of these ideas is insufficient. The descriptions are too brief to provide a helpful response to a friend. To improve, you must expand on each point by providing more specific details, personal anecdotes, or elaborated explanations to ensure the letter is fully developed and meets the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is logically organized, with a clear opening and a progression through the required points. However, the use of cohesive devices is very limited. There is a lack of transition words or linking phrases to connect ideas smoothly between sentences. For example, the transition between the course description and the university recommendation is abrupt. Paragraphing is also minimal; you should aim to separate your introduction, body paragraphs for each bullet point, and a closing statement into distinct, well-structured paragraphs to improve the overall flow and readability of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision expected for higher bands. There are some spelling errors, such as 'domaine' (domain) and 'prestegious' (prestigious), and some awkward phrasing like 'describe you more about my course' (which should be 'tell you more about'). To improve, focus on using more natural collocations and varied vocabulary related to academic settings. Avoid repetitive sentence structures and try to incorporate more sophisticated adjectives and verbs to convey your ideas more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally hinder clarity. For instance, 'If you're taking my suggestions serious' should be 'seriously', and 'each student eagers to take admission' is grammatically incorrect. Additionally, there are issues with article usage and verb forms. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors suggests a need for more careful proofreading and a better grasp of sentence construction, particularly regarding adverb usage and subject-verb agreement.

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

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