Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-26

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You are a member of an International Students' club. The club is organising an event to celebrate popular food from around the world.

Write a letter to the event organiser, Luis. In your letter

• offer to make a popular dish from your country
• describe what this dish is
• explain why it should be included in the event

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Luis,

Student answer (Band 5.0)

Dear Luis,

I am writing a letter because a Dish is most popular overall in the world. I want to highlight that the dish was beef lasagna; it's very tasty, and its base is in my country

It is very easy; first, you make a sauce, and then you blanch the tomatoes

After blanching, peel and blend; put some spices, for example, red chili powder, salt, and black pepper, and mix it well. Cook for about 5 minutes

. Similarly, boil water in a pot, put some lasagna sheets

I prefer this dish; it's very yummy. People are most likely and good combination of meat or pasta. Two or three people eat

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you cover the three bullet points—offering a dish, describing it, and explaining its inclusion—the content is underdeveloped. The description of the dish is more of a fragmented recipe rather than a cohesive explanation, and the reasoning for its inclusion is vague. To improve, you must expand on your ideas by providing more detail about the cultural significance of the dish and why it would be a highlight for the event, ensuring you meet the length requirement to fully address the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter lacks a clear logical progression. While there is an attempt at paragraphing, the transitions between sentences are disjointed and often confusing. For example, the shift from describing the dish to the cooking process is abrupt, and the final paragraph lacks a clear concluding thought. The use of cohesive devices is minimal and sometimes inaccurate, such as the misuse of 'Similarly' when describing the boiling of water. To improve, focus on using linking words like 'furthermore', 'consequently', or 'in addition' to connect your ideas more fluidly and ensure each paragraph has a clear, singular focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive, relying on basic descriptors like 'tasty', 'easy', and 'yummy'. There is little attempt to use more sophisticated or topic-specific vocabulary related to food or event planning. Some word choices are unnatural, such as 'its base is in my country' or 'People are most likely and good combination'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise culinary terms and varied adjectives to describe the dish and its appeal. Expanding your range of vocabulary will help you express your ideas with greater clarity and impact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with verb tense consistency, such as 'the dish was beef lasagna', and sentence structure, such as 'Two or three people eat'. Punctuation is also problematic, with unnecessary line breaks and fragmented sentences that disrupt the flow. You rely heavily on simple sentence structures, and attempts at more complex sentences are often inaccurate. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and sentence construction. Proofreading for punctuation and ensuring your tenses remain consistent throughout the letter will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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