Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-17
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)
Hi jack
I i had applied for management couse in glassgow university and i got your message that you also want to apply for same course . I can help you if you want it and i will give you my advice about it . I choose this course because i want to go further in this course for my better knowledge and life . Also you know as well i have studied about bachelor of science and i want to go in same field. According to my research for this course glassgow is an best university for this. They gives wild range of subjects and professors are also well professional which can help you to get real life experiences . Also its on my budget and i reserach about different universities via modern technologies and i found glassgow is beat among all of them . And for application you can go through universtiy website and fill the application form and you will get response from them with in few days .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The letter addresses all three bullet points: the course details, the recommendation of the university, and the application advice. However, the development of these points is somewhat limited. For instance, the description of the course is vague, mentioning only 'management' and 'bachelor of science' without specific details. The advice on how to apply is also quite brief. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples or personal anecdotes about the course content and offer more detailed, step-by-step guidance on the application process to fully satisfy the requirements of the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter is written as a single block of text, which significantly impacts the coherence. IELTS letters should be structured into clear paragraphs (e.g., an introduction, body paragraphs for each bullet point, and a closing). While there is a logical flow, the lack of paragraphing makes the text feel cluttered. Additionally, the use of cohesive devices is quite basic, relying heavily on 'also' and 'and' to connect ideas. Using a wider range of linking words such as 'furthermore', 'consequently', or 'in terms of' would improve the flow and logical progression of your arguments.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several spelling errors, such as 'couse' instead of 'course', 'glassgow' instead of 'Glasgow', 'reserach' instead of 'research', and 'beat' instead of 'best'. Furthermore, some word choices are unnatural, such as 'wild range of subjects' (should be 'wide range') and 'well professional' (should be 'highly professional'). To improve, focus on using more precise academic or professional terminology and ensure you proofread for basic spelling and collocation errors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. Issues include incorrect verb tenses ('I i had applied'), missing articles ('in glassgow university'), and subject-verb agreement errors ('They gives wild range'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas and periods. To achieve a higher band, you need to demonstrate better control over basic grammar, such as article usage and verb conjugation, and aim for more error-free complex sentences.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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