Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-12
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 Rahul
I hope you're doing well. I'm here to suggest you about your concerned course as you're thinking to apply in same course as I did. My course was bachelor of science in mathematics. It was a good course. It has a good future scope , you can get a high paying job through this if you do it properly.
It will help you to enhance your mathematical skills, your problem solving skills, and will help you to build some good projects for your cv also. I'll recommend you to go for it . The university has a great environment and energy , it has all the facilities along with sports ,science labs etc.
You can directly apply in the university by filling the given form in the campus , add your required documents in it.
I hope it will not disappoint you , let me know what you decide.
Thankyou
Rinki
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all three bullet points: the course details, the recommendation of the university, and the application process. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited. For instance, the description of the course as 'a good course' with 'good future scope' is vague and lacks the depth expected for a Band 7 or higher. The advice on how to apply is also very brief. To improve, you should provide more specific details about the curriculum or your personal experience, and offer more comprehensive, step-by-step guidance on the application process to fully satisfy the task requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter is logically organized into paragraphs, and the progression of ideas is clear. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'It will help you' and 'The university has'. However, the transitions between sentences are sometimes mechanical, and there is a lack of more sophisticated linking words or referencing. The paragraphing is appropriate for a letter, but the overall flow could be improved by using a wider variety of cohesive devices to connect your ideas more fluidly. The structure is sufficient for a Band 6, but lacks the flexibility required for higher bands.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. Phrases like 'good course', 'good future scope', and 'great environment' are repetitive and lack precision. While you attempt to use some relevant terminology like 'mathematical skills' and 'problem solving skills', there is little evidence of less common or idiomatic language. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to use more precise adjectives and collocations that demonstrate a broader range of vocabulary, moving away from simple descriptors like 'good' or 'great'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'suggest you about your concerned course' (should be 'advise you regarding your chosen course') and 'apply in the university' (should be 'apply to the university'). Additionally, there are punctuation issues, such as missing spaces after commas and before 'Thankyou'. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. You should focus on improving your control over prepositions and sentence structure to ensure greater accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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