Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-11
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 smith,
I a happy to hear that you are applying same course where I completed my course. I would love to share my experience and give some advice that might be helpful in your course.
The course I took was a Master of business administration.
It was a three year program that covered subjects such as Statistics, Marketing Management, supply chain management, Human resource management, Accounting. The course mixes of theorical knowledge and practical knowledge, which helped me develop
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 meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it contains only 80 words. Consequently, the task is incomplete. While the letter begins to address the requirements by mentioning the course name and some subjects, it fails to provide the necessary depth for the university recommendation or the application advice. The response is cut off mid-sentence, meaning the majority of the prompt's requirements remain unaddressed. To improve, you must ensure you fully develop each bullet point and meet the minimum length requirement to allow for a complete response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The letter is too short to demonstrate a clear logical progression or effective paragraphing. While the opening is coherent, the abrupt ending prevents the development of a cohesive structure. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas, and the text does not flow as a complete letter. To achieve a higher score, you need to organize your ideas into distinct paragraphs for each bullet point and use linking words to connect your thoughts logically.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive. There are errors in word choice, such as 'applying same course' instead of 'applying for the same course' and 'theorical' instead of 'theoretical'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to express ideas with precision or variety. To improve, focus on using more academic or formal collocations related to university studies and ensure you proofread for basic spelling and word-form errors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors that hinder clarity. For example, 'I a happy' should be 'I am happy', and 'where I completed my course' is awkward phrasing. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the unfinished sentence at the end makes it impossible to assess your ability to construct more sophisticated grammar. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct preposition usage, and practicing the construction of complex sentences using subordinating conjunctions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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