Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-15
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 Kishan,
I heard that you are planning to pursue your graduation in the same the same engineering field that I did for my bachelor's degree. I would be happy to guide about the chemical engineering' subjects and suggest the best university for that.
This course will cover fluid mechanics in details about some subjects like heat transfer, mass transfer, process calculation and so on, which will be very helpful in the real world.
When it comes to chemical engineering, I think the Dhirubhai Ambani University is cut to the rest. Their staff is very knowledgeable and experienced. This university is also know for high rate of placements after the gradution.
To apply for this course, you could
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to address all parts of the task effectively. While you mention the course subjects and recommend a university, the letter is incomplete. You did not finish the final bullet point regarding how to apply, and the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement. Because the letter is unfinished and lacks the necessary length to develop ideas fully, it does not meet the requirements of the task. To improve, ensure you provide a complete response that covers all three bullet points in detail and meets the word count threshold.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The letter is organised into short paragraphs, which is appropriate for the format. However, the progression of ideas is interrupted by the abrupt ending. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link sentences smoothly; for example, the transition between the course description and the university recommendation is quite mechanical. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in addition') to connect your ideas and ensure the letter flows logically from one point to the next.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for a basic letter, but it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There are some errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'cut to the rest' (likely meant 'cut above the rest') and 'know for' (should be 'known for'). The repetition of 'the same' in the opening sentence also indicates a limited range. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and ensure you proofread for common word-form errors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors that hinder clarity. For instance, 'pursue your graduation in the same the same engineering field' contains a repetition error, and 'chemical engineering' subjects' has an incorrectly placed apostrophe. There are also issues with verb forms, such as 'is also know for' instead of 'is also known for'. The sentence structures are relatively simple, and the lack of a conclusion or a complete final paragraph limits the range of structures demonstrated. Focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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