Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-04

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

It is ten years since you left college. You'd like to organise an event to celebrate this anniversary with all your friends and classmates from college.

Write a letter to one of your college friends. In your letter

• say what kind of celebration event you'd like to organise

• explain why you think it would be good to celebrate in this way

• describe what help you need to organise this event

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

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

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear Harry,

I hope your doing well. I want to write a letter to you, because i am organising a event in our college on November 20th and to invite all my close friends and classmates. It had been ten years i did not meet anybody. I got a permission from our college principal and explain how it would be helpful.

I like to organize an Art Gallery event, in which everyone can show their art through this event like paintings, creativity and so on.

I think this celebration would be grateful because everyone are welcome, more interesting thing is that, we can spend quality of time with each other. Also, i prepare a speech about a value of good friends. In that through, i will explain what qualities a good friend have.

I just need a little help, i know you are busy in your life. When you have chance please reach me out anytime i need some sugguestions.

Your faithfully,

HARMAN

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address all three bullet points: you propose an art gallery, explain that it would let classmates share their work and spend time together, and ask Harry for suggestions. The event is relevant and the purpose is understandable. However, the explanation of why this format is especially suitable is brief, and the request for help remains vague: “some suggestions” does not specify what Harry could do, such as contact classmates, help choose a venue, or arrange refreshments. The opening also says you have permission and will explain its usefulness, but this point is not clearly developed. Add a little more detail to the reasons and make the practical request specific.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a recognisable sequence: you introduce the reunion, describe the proposed event, give reasons, and finish by asking for help. Paragraph breaks help distinguish these stages, and linking expressions such as “Also” and “because” make some relationships clear. At times, however, connections are awkward or unclear. For example, “I got a permission from our college principal and explain how it would be helpful” does not clearly connect the permission to the event, while “In that through” makes the link to your speech difficult to follow. The ideas would progress more smoothly if each paragraph focused on one purpose and transitions were expressed more naturally.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the occasion, including “celebration,” “Art Gallery,” “classmates,” “quality time,” and “speech,” so the reader can understand the main proposal. There are also attempts to express more specific ideas, such as displaying paintings and discussing the qualities of a good friend. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, including “would be grateful,” “reach me out,” and “a value of good friends.” These choices sometimes make the intended meaning less clear. Aim for natural phrases suited to a friendly letter, and check spelling and word forms such as “suggestions.” More precise vocabulary for organising an event would also help you explain the help you need.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple sentences and longer structures, for example, “I think this celebration would be grateful because…” and “in which everyone can show their art.” This shows some effort to connect ideas, but control is uneven, and errors sometimes make sentences difficult to follow. Examples include “I hope your doing well” (the contraction should be “you’re”), “It had been ten years i did not meet anybody,” and “everyone are welcome.” Articles and sentence construction also need attention in “organising a event” and “I got a permission.” Capitalisation of “I” is inconsistent, and the closing “Your faithfully” is not grammatically formed. Practise accurate verb forms, agreement, and articles before adding more complex clauses.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.