Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-06

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The younger sister of one of your friends is thinking about spending a year studying abroad as part of her university course. You did this recently, and she has asked you about your experience.

Write a letter to your friend's sister. In your letter

• tell her where you studied during your year abroad

• describe what you learnt about the country you studied in

• explain why your year abroad was helpful for your studies

Begin your letter as follows:
Dear........,

Student answer (Band 5.0)

Dear Shivani,

I hope you are well, yesterday I received a call from shiva he is more concerned about your future and he told me to write this letter to describe my academic experience. I came to know that you are taking admission in same university from where i have completed my course.So, i came here last year and enrolled in cambridge university which is one of the biggest university in the town and equipped with advance classrooms and a separate buliding for students to live which are new to the country. My overall experience about the country is good but as an individual you have to manage your studies, rent and the job all you have to do alone. there are many individuals who are immigrants here first but now become residents with their consistency and hardwork.

My year abroad was helpful for my academics as I am working as a software developer and backhome I worked in a multi national company which provide me with practical skills and knowledge which provide benefit in my studies. so,I give you a useful advice that without wasting your time start searching for job in your field which would be beneficial for your future.

Best regards,

jatin

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address the three requested points: you name Cambridge University, mention learning to manage study, rent and work independently, and explain that your work experience gave you practical skills. However, the country itself is not clearly identified, and the description of what you learnt about it is limited; the comments about immigrants becoming residents are also difficult to connect to your own experience. The explanation of how the year abroad helped your studies is unclear because you focus on work before and after the trip rather than showing what the overseas study added to your academic learning. Develop each point with specific examples, and make the link between the experience and your course explicit. The letter format and friendly purpose are appropriate, but the content only partly fulfils the task in sufficient detail.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable letter structure, with a greeting, two main paragraphs and a closing, and the reader can identify the broad topics of your experience and advice. However, the first paragraph contains several ideas in one long sequence, so the progression is not always clear. For example, the move from Cambridge’s facilities to managing rent and work, then to immigrants becoming residents, feels abrupt. The second paragraph also shifts from your previous job to advice for Shivani without clearly connecting these points. Some linking is attempted through phrases such as “So” and “as,” but connections are sometimes inaccurate or mechanical. Organise the letter around the three task points, use clearer transitions, and ensure pronouns and references such as “which” have an unmistakable meaning.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “academic experience,” “practical skills and knowledge,” and “beneficial for your future.” There are also attempts at more specific language, such as “immigrants” and “consistency.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “taking admission,” “biggest university in the town,” and “give you a useful advice.” Spelling and word-form errors such as “buliding,” “hardwork,” and “backhome” are noticeable and sometimes make the reader pause. Aim for more natural phrases and check spelling carefully. A wider set of precise terms for studying abroad, cultural observations and academic development would help you express the relevant ideas more clearly and flexibly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, but control is inconsistent, and complex sentences often become difficult to follow. The opening sentence joins several clauses with commas: “I hope you are well, yesterday I received a call…”; these should be separated or linked with appropriate punctuation. There are also recurring errors in articles, agreement and sentence construction, as in “one of the biggest university” and “all you have to do alone.” Capitalisation and punctuation are inconsistent, including lowercase “i” and missing spaces after full stops. These errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the general message, but they reduce clarity. Use shorter, complete sentences where needed, and check subject–verb agreement, articles and punctuation before submitting.

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