Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-26
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)
hello,lucky
i hope you are doing well. I recently received letter that you are also planning to study cpsc course one i did in my first semester. The course is all about computer science which is vital to know in today’s world as technology is getting advanced day by day. i would recommend you doing this study from where i did university canada west proffers over there are very professional and well educated they teaches lots of things in effectively and efficiently. not only that it is also easy to transport as bus stand us just right to the institute and they comes evey 10 mints. with this subject you would get a chance to learn excel, word file, editing and how computers make work easy. which make our work and daily both life’s relaxed. let me know if you need any other suggestions. i hope we will meet soon
your friend
xyz
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The letter covers all three bullet points: it describes the computer science course, explains why the university is recommended, and provides advice on the application process. However, the development of these points is quite limited. For instance, the advice on how to apply is vague, merely stating 'let me know if you need any other suggestions' rather than providing concrete steps. The tone is also inconsistent; while it is a letter to a friend, the language lacks the natural flow and appropriate register expected in a personal correspondence. To improve, you should expand on your ideas with more specific details and ensure the tone remains consistently friendly yet informative throughout the response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The letter lacks clear paragraphing, which makes it difficult to follow the progression of ideas. The text is presented as a single block, which is inappropriate for a letter format. While there are some attempts at linking ideas, such as 'not only that', the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the overall structure feels disjointed. To improve, you should organize your letter into distinct paragraphs: one for the introduction, one for each bullet point, and a concluding paragraph. Using a wider range of transition words would also help improve the flow between sentences.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'proffers over there' (likely meaning professors) and 'easy to transport' (referring to accessibility). The use of 'daily both life’s' is also grammatically and lexically incorrect. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the lack of precision and the presence of spelling errors (e.g., 'evey', 'mints') hinder the quality of the writing. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise vocabulary related to academic and daily life contexts and ensure correct spelling and word formation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. There are issues with subject-verb agreement, such as 'they teaches' and 'they comes'. Punctuation is also problematic, with many run-on sentences and a lack of proper capitalization, particularly at the start of sentences and for proper nouns like 'Canada West'. The sentence structures are mostly simple, and there is little evidence of complex grammatical forms. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, ensure consistent use of capital letters, and practice subject-verb agreement. Incorporating a variety of sentence structures will also help demonstrate a wider grammatical range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.