Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-16

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 Carolina,

I am writing this letter to apply for position as senior physiotherapist in our company for lateral transfer as it is crucial part in our field to gain more knowledge regarding different department.

In current role working with supportive team, I have learned so many different skills such as communication, problem-solving as well as patient satisfaction. Since this skills are essential for consulting patients, also documenting in software for the patient's record is crucial which I have learned very accurately.

As I am taking lateral transfer in same company, I would have less difficulties to understand and adjust with staff here. However, from pulmonary therapist to cardio-pulmonary therapist is a two different subject which I would like to take few days training to undertand well.

I worked in this clinic since five years and I am emotionally attached to this clinic now which is why I do not want to leave this clinic. I would like to provide my services to patients from this company.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Jinal.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student covers all parts of the prompt reasonably well. The letter begins by addressing what has been learned in the present job ('learned so many different skills such as communication, problem-solving'), suggests company benefits such as easing the transition ('I would have less difficulties to understand and adjust with staff here'), and explains the motivation for staying ('I do not want to leave this clinic'). However, the tone and positioning wander slightly into a formal job application ('apply for position as senior physiotherapist') rather than an internal transfer request to a manager, which affects the overall communicative effect. Ideas are generally relevant, but the development is somewhat basic. This performance aligns well with Band 6.0 descriptors, where all parts are addressed, but some areas lack full clarity and appropriate register.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is arranged into logical paragraphs, beginning with an appropriate salutation and closing. Cohesive devices are used to connect ideas, such as 'Since this skills are essential', 'However', and 'which is why'. However, paragraphing and referencing are occasionally mechanical or slightly faulty, and pronouns are not always used with precision. For example, 'Since this skills' contains a reference error with plural agreement. Progression is discernible overall, but the transitions between points can feel abrupt. These features place the response firmly in the Band 6 category, demonstrating a coherent overall arrangement despite some faulty referencing and mechanical cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate basic professional concepts such as 'lateral transfer', 'patient satisfaction', and 'pulmonary therapist'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'take lateral transfer' instead of 'request' or 'undertake', and 'two different subject' instead of 'subjects'. The student attempts less common vocabulary, but these attempts are accompanied by inaccuracies. Spelling is generally acceptable, but lexical control is limited. This corresponds to a Band 6 score, reflecting an adequate range with some inappropriate word choices that do not prevent the reader from understanding the message.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as conditional or relative clauses ('which I would like to take few days training to undertand well'). However, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including article omissions ('for position as senior physiotherapist'), subject-verb agreement issues ('this skills are'), and preposition errors ('in same company' instead of 'within the same company'). Although these errors are noticeable and require some effort to decode, they do not completely impede communication. This performance fits the Band 5.0 descriptors, featuring a limited range of structures and frequent grammatical inaccuracies.

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

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