Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-10

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 Darshak,

I hope all is well.

I get to hear the news that you are planning to study the same course, but seems little confused about choosing the university.

I feel glad if I would be able to assist you in this matter.

Firstly, the course which I studied was Business management with accounting proficiency. I choose to study in the university of Toronto because of few things.

The first and foremost was the value and prestige the university holds. Apart from this, after study the placements university offers.

It would be great if you can choose the same university, as you might also get the same advantage as I received. Nice high paying job!

However, I would like you to be careful about your studies, as the university is super strict and will not pass you if you do not study

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you addressed the course details and the recommendation, the advice on how to apply is entirely missing. The letter ends abruptly mid-sentence, leaving the task incomplete. To improve, ensure you cover all three bullet points in the prompt and provide sufficient detail for each. Because the letter is unfinished and under-length, the development of ideas is severely limited, preventing a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter has a basic structure, but the lack of completion makes it difficult to assess the overall flow. You use some basic cohesive devices like 'Firstly' and 'However', but the transition between ideas is sometimes mechanical. Paragraphing is insufficient; the text is presented as a single block, which hinders readability. To improve, ensure you use clear paragraph breaks for each new point and use a wider range of linking words to connect your ideas more naturally. The abrupt ending also disrupts the logical progression of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for a simple letter but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. Phrases like 'get to hear the news' and 'nice high paying job' are somewhat informal and repetitive. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'after study the placements' which is grammatically awkward. To improve, aim for more precise collocations and a slightly more formal tone appropriate for a letter of advice. Avoid overly simplistic phrasing and try to incorporate more varied vocabulary related to academic and professional contexts.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors that affect clarity. For example, 'seems little confused' is missing a subject, and 'I choose to study' uses the wrong tense (should be 'chose'). There are also issues with sentence structure, such as 'after study the placements university offers', which is fragmented. While you attempt some complex ideas, the frequent errors and the incomplete final sentence demonstrate a lack of control over more complex structures. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will help improve your accuracy.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.