Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-25

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

 

You started in your present job two years ago. You now feel it is important for your career development to move to a different department in the same company.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter

• say what you have learned in your present job
• suggest how the company would benefit from moving you to a different department
• explain why you do not wish to leave the company

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ....................................,

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear Manager,

I am writing to request for a change in my position in order to have a better future. I would be prefer to become an Assistant Manager of the store.

I have been working as a Shift Supervisor from last 2 years and I become proficient in various tasks such as handling rush hours as well as managing the team.

Last month, I completed a course in management where I learned better communication and organization skills. Moreover, I believe these skills will be beneficial for the company growth.

The primary reason for choosing this compan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely impacts the ability to fully address all parts of the prompt. While you mention your current role and some skills learned, the letter is incomplete; it cuts off mid-sentence and fails to address the requirement to explain why you do not wish to leave the company. To improve, you must ensure all bullet points are covered in detail and meet the length requirement. Currently, the ideas are too brief and the task remains unfinished, which limits the score significantly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter shows a basic attempt at paragraphing, which helps the reader follow the initial points. However, because the text is incomplete and ends abruptly, the overall progression is interrupted. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas smoothly; for example, the transition between your current role and your management course could be better connected using linking words like 'Furthermore' or 'In addition to this'. The abrupt ending makes the letter incoherent as a whole.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally functional but limited. You use some appropriate terms like 'proficient', 'management', and 'communication', which are relevant to the context. However, there are errors in word choice and phrasing, such as 'request for a change in my position' (request a change) and 'I would be prefer' (I would prefer). To reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise professional collocations and avoid basic grammatical errors that affect your word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains several grammatical errors that hinder clarity. For instance, 'I have been working... from last 2 years' should be 'for the last 2 years'. The phrase 'I become proficient' should be 'I have become proficient'. There is also a lack of complex sentence structures, as most sentences are simple or contain errors. The incomplete nature of the text also means there is no opportunity to demonstrate a wider range of grammatical structures. Focusing on correct tense usage and sentence variety is essential.

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