Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-16

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have decided to look for a new job.

Write a letter to a friend. In your letter
• explain why you are looking for a new job.
• describe the kind of job you would like to have.
• ask your friend to help you find a job

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear _________,

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear friend,

How are you?

I am writing this letter because I am looking for a new job. My current job is good enough but honestly now I am exhausted and want to start a new job.

I am looking for a job in which my career can expel. Because in the current job I am not getting any promotion and even not learning anything new. So now I have finally decided to change the job.

In this regard my dear friend I need your help. As you are more experienced and more familiar with the market situation so I think you can help me better in this matter.

I would also love if you can give me any good advice regarding the above mentioned issue so that it will help me alot.

Thankyou dear friend.

Hope to get reply from you soon.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: explaining the reason for leaving, describing the desired job, and asking for help. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which limits the development of ideas. The explanation of why you are looking for a new job is brief, and the description of the desired job is vague, stating only that you want your 'career to expel' without specifying the field or role. To improve, you should expand on your professional goals and provide more specific details about the type of work you are seeking to ensure the response is fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter follows a basic logical progression, starting with the reason for writing and ending with a request for assistance. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the letter consists of several very short, choppy paragraphs that lack cohesive devices to link ideas smoothly. For example, the transition between the reason for leaving and the request for help is abrupt. Using a wider range of linking words such as 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in addition' would help improve the flow and create a more natural, cohesive structure throughout the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are some awkward word choices, such as 'my career can expel,' which is an incorrect collocation; 'expand' or 'progress' would be more appropriate. Additionally, the phrase 'market situation' is somewhat generic. While the meaning is clear, the range of vocabulary is limited, and there is a reliance on simple, repetitive language. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more specific professional terminology and avoid basic phrasing like 'good enough' or 'a lot.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter uses a mix of simple sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'even not learning anything new' and 'I would also love if you can give me,' which should be 'I would love it if you could.' Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the lack of commas in complex sentences. While the errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall clarity. Increasing the use of complex sentence structures and proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement would significantly improve your score.

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

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