Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-24

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 John,

Hope you're hale and hearty!

I am writing this letter, in order to tell you that I am looking for a new job because in my previous career I receive a lower amount of salary. However, I had always pay huge efforts; still my boss deduct by money. Moreover, I had to travel 3 hours in bus in order to reach there due to this my travelling expense cost me more.

Let me shed some light Firstly, I have a great interest in marketing management . Besides this, it would be quite helpful for me If you find my occupation in sales department.

Additionally, as a friend I already know that you assist me in discovering this kind of employment. Furthermore, I know that you have a great contact with business employment exchanges. So, please do this as soon as possible.

Looking forward to your prompt response!

Yours Lovingly,

Roger Jameson.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the prompt: explaining why you are looking for a new job, describing the desired role, and asking for your friend's help. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and the purpose is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For example, the explanation regarding the salary and travel expenses is brief, and the request for help could be more naturally integrated into the flow of the letter. To improve, try to expand on your reasons and your specific skills to make the letter more engaging and persuasive.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your message. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Additionally', and 'Furthermore'. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical or forced, such as 'Let me shed some light', which is not the most natural way to introduce your preferences in a personal letter. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the connection between the paragraphs could be smoother. Using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring they fit the informal context of a letter to a friend would improve your score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have an adequate range of vocabulary to convey your meaning, such as 'hale and hearty' and 'prompt response'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors that hinder precision. For example, 'I had always pay huge efforts' should be 'I always put in a lot of effort', and 'my boss deduct by money' is unclear. Additionally, 'find my occupation' is not the standard way to ask for job leads. Focusing on learning common collocations and phrases related to employment will help you express your ideas more naturally and accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

Your writing shows a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of reading. Issues include tense inconsistency ('I receive' instead of 'I received'), incorrect preposition usage, and subject-verb agreement errors ('my boss deduct by money'). While the meaning is generally understandable, these recurring errors suggest a need for more careful proofreading and a better grasp of verb tenses and sentence construction. Focusing on basic grammatical accuracy will significantly improve the clarity of your writing.

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

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