Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-11-04

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)

Dear Neha,

Hope u are doing well.Actually i recived your letter and I very glad to read your text you are joining my university.

Firstly, its very good news you join master of commerce , because i have also opt same course. Apart from this this course had very large scope in coprative companies . It has four subject acconts, ecnomics , business studies ,management . all the subject provied alots of knowlege about practical as well as theory .

well i recommend kpu because its provie d ether best studies or provied best placment oppurtunity.

Moving further , i help u to apply for this course , it is very easy way first open university website go addmission section fill the form choose subject and submit it .

lastly, hope u get the addmision ,when u got it please inform me so i find the room in university hostel because its easy for us to covey each other . we meet early

your loving ,

pooja,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three requested points: you identify the course as a Master of Commerce, give reasons for recommending KPU, and outline an application process. The course details—four subjects and a mix of practical and theoretical learning—are relevant, while the university’s “best placement opportunity” gives a reason for your recommendation. However, these points are not equally developed: the course description is brief, and the application advice is limited to visiting the website, filling in a form, choosing a subject and submitting it. Add useful specifics, such as checking entry requirements and preparing documents, and explain more clearly what makes the university a good choice. The friendly closing and request to hear about admission suit the purpose of the letter.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall sequence: it opens with a greeting, introduces the course, recommends the university, gives application steps, and ends with a personal closing. Paragraphing and signposts such as “Firstly,” “Moving further,” and “lastly” help the reader follow the main stages, which supports a coherent response. To move beyond this level, make the links between ideas more natural and precise. For example, “Apart from this” does not clearly connect the course’s scope to the subject list, and “well” and “Moving further” sound mechanical in this context. Separate the main points into distinct paragraphs and use clearer transitions, while ensuring references such as “it” and “this course” have an unmistakable meaning.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “Master of Commerce,” “practical,” “theory,” “placement opportunity,” and “admission section.” These choices communicate the main ideas, but the range is limited and several spelling and word-choice errors make parts of the letter difficult to understand, such as “coprative companies,” “acconts,” and “provied.” Some phrases are also unnatural, including “very large scope” and “best studies.” Aim for accurate, natural collocations and check spelling carefully. For instance, you could describe the course as offering “strong career prospects” and say the university provides “high-quality teaching” and “good employment opportunities.” This would make your advice clearer and more appropriate for a friendly letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, and the overall message can generally be followed. However, grammatical control is uneven, with errors in verb forms, articles, agreement, and sentence boundaries. For example, “I very glad” needs a verb (“I am very glad”), while “I have also opt same course” needs a past participle and an article (“I also opted for the same course”). The opening also joins several ideas without appropriate punctuation: “Hope u are doing well.Actually…” Use complete sentences, check that each clause has a subject and verb, and practise accurate past and present forms. A few well-controlled complex sentences would add range without sacrificing clarity.

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

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