Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-24

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)

hello Ahmad,

Hope you find this letter with radiant health and beautiful spirits.

you asked me that course i had completed with national university.it was the best decision i took.this course about you asking to me is very interesting,and it is very helpful for your future next.

i recommend to you the university of national islamic university.There are all teachers are very polite and very caring ,and schedule of university according to you like.it is near to your home town that you can go to university easily by your motor bike with in half an hour or fifteen mints.

i would like to say you that you can apply easily for this course online.i will send you web address,where you can post yours all documents related your study and you will receive a confirmation letter from university.

Moreover would you like more information about this course and university im here always for you.

best regards

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt: you mentioned the course, explained why you recommend the university, and provided advice on the application process. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited. For example, you mention the course is 'interesting' and 'helpful,' but you do not provide specific details about the curriculum or the skills gained. Similarly, the advice on how to apply is very brief. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more specific examples or descriptive details to provide a more comprehensive response to your friend.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is very limited and sometimes mechanical. You rely heavily on simple sentence structures, and there is a lack of linking words to connect your ideas smoothly. For instance, the transition between discussing the university and the application process is abrupt. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking phrases such as 'Furthermore,' 'In addition to this,' or 'Consequently' to create a better flow between your sentences and paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is quite basic and repetitive. You use simple adjectives like 'best,' 'interesting,' and 'helpful' throughout the letter. There are also some issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'radiant health' (which is slightly unnatural in this context) and 'post yours all documents' (which should be 'submit all your documents'). To achieve a higher score, you should aim to use more precise vocabulary and idiomatic expressions that are appropriate for an informal letter to a friend.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('There are all teachers are'), article usage, and sentence structure. Many sentences are fragmented or lack proper punctuation, such as the run-on sentence 'this course about you asking to me is very interesting,and it is very helpful'. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors are frequent and occasionally require the reader to re-read to understand the intended message. You should focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like missing articles and incorrect verb forms.

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

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