Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-21
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)
Hey Rutvi,
I hope you are doing well. I has been long time that we did't meet. I heard that you are planning to apply for the course which I took. I got really excited once I got to know that you are thinking about my university.
I definitely suggest to choose my university for this course specifically. I know that you want to study Machine Learning deeply and my course is completely covers all important subjects and topics. In further, we have intelligent and kind professors who helps us and explain whenever we booked session even though there is no class. Moreover, our university has attractive structure and interior which you will love it. Specially, the canteen area is amazing where you can play board games and get various options for food and drinks.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you addressed the first two bullet points regarding the course details and the recommendation of the university, the third bullet point regarding advice on how to apply was completely omitted. To achieve a higher band, you must ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed and that you meet the length requirement. The ideas provided are relevant but lack the necessary depth and development expected for this task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter is organized into short paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'In further', the latter is used incorrectly. The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect your thoughts more naturally. The structure is basic, and the lack of a proper closing or sign-off further affects the overall coherence of the letter.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on simple descriptors such as 'amazing', 'kind', and 'attractive'. There are also some word choice errors, such as 'In further' instead of 'Furthermore' and 'my course is completely covers' which shows a lack of control over collocations. To improve, try to incorporate more specific academic or descriptive vocabulary related to university life and application processes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'I has been long time that we did't meet' (tense and article errors), 'my course is completely covers' (verb form error), and 'professors who helps us' (subject-verb agreement). You rely mostly on simple sentence structures. To reach a higher band, you need to demonstrate better control over complex sentence structures and improve your accuracy with basic verb tenses and subject-verb agreement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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