Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-07
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 5.5)
Dear Sana,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am glad to hear that you took a part time course at Toronto University same as I did it last year.
I have completed my course with good grades. Although software engineering technician course bit difficult as beginner like you, it was helpful to find the job with handsome salary. Studying at Toronto University helps you to improve your skills and boost your confidence.
Additionally, I have learnt programming languages such as HTML, CSS, basic java Scripts, database and php that help me to lend a job. Moreover, Professor at University are supportive and college provides basic training with live projects.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
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 the ideas. While you addressed the three bullet points—mentioning the university, the skills learned, and the benefits to your studies—the content is underdeveloped. For instance, you did not describe the country itself, only the university. To improve, you need to expand on your experiences with more descriptive detail and ensure you meet the length requirement to allow for a full exploration of the task prompts. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, but the brevity prevents a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The letter is logically organized with a clear opening and distinct paragraphs for different topics. You used some cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'Additionally', and 'Moreover' to link your ideas. However, the progression is somewhat mechanical, and the short length limits the opportunity to demonstrate a wider range of cohesive devices. The paragraphing is sufficient for the length of the text, but the transitions between sentences could be smoother to create a more natural flow. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph contains more supporting sentences to build a cohesive argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your message clearly. You used some relevant terminology like 'software engineering technician', 'programming languages', and 'live projects'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'lend a job' (should be 'land a job') and 'handsome salary' (which is slightly informal/cliché). The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little evidence of less common or more sophisticated lexical items. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise adjectives and idiomatic expressions that fit the context of a personal letter.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the accuracy of the writing. Examples include 'took a part time course... same as I did it last year' (awkward phrasing), 'software engineering technician course bit difficult' (missing article/verb), and 'Professor at University are supportive' (subject-verb agreement error). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. You should focus on proofreading for basic errors like subject-verb agreement, missing articles, and correct verb tenses to improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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