Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-24
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 4.5)
Dear Anuka,
I hope you are doing well. I am happy to hear about you are cosidering a year to study in abroad. Its singificantly great news to hear that, i'm also last year join my study in Canada university its was awsome experience.
At present i have study in Canada,mallbrone University and my experience is great about how can handle the single way in all the households and work and study also. it was extremely happy and kind people in canada country and university .
In any University you have learnt about great oppurtunities learn to new cultural,traditions and other how people stand behide you. I am also learn in country is different language people managing the way kind hearted.
So Its often choose to study about as part of my life is extremely is my cup of coffee type a idea. I am also learn the country around the people and other country students how they manage in there life is become route to try own self and know about your self how its life tackle in your single hand.
So, I Highly recomended to year of study in abroad is significantly great oppurtunity. and very helpful for your future.
Best wishes,
Sunita
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
The candidate has attempted all parts of the prompt: she greets the friend's sister, mentions studying in Canada (specifically at 'mallbrone University'), touches upon cultural experiences and learning, and recommends the year abroad. However, the development of these ideas is frequently hindered by lack of clarity and grammatical confusion. For instance, phrases like 'i'm also last year join my study in Canada university' make it difficult to fully grasp the specifics of her experience. While the letter format is adopted, the overall execution places the response closer to Band 4.5 or 5 due to under-developed ideas and partial fulfillment of the communicative purpose.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5
The letter lacks a clear logical progression and smooth transitions between sentences and paragraphs. The text is divided into short, disjointed blocks rather than cohesive paragraphs, and cohesive devices are either absent or inappropriately used, as seen with the repetitive starting conjunction 'So' and 'In any University you have learnt about...'. Referencing is frequently unclear (e.g., 'how its life tackle in your single hand'), which forces the reader to pause and guess the intended meaning. Overall, the organisation shows basic paragraphing but falls short of clear logical progression.
Lexical Resource: Band 4.0
The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive, with frequent spelling errors ('cosidering', 'singificantly', 'awsome', 'mallbrone', 'oppurtunities', 'behide', 'recomended') and poor word choices ('cup of coffee type a idea', 'route to try own self'). While the candidate attempts to use some less common words, noticeable errors in word formation and collocation cause significant strain for the reader and impede clear communication at times. The lexical range is minimally adequate for basic communication, matching Band 4.0 descriptors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.0
Grammatical control is weak throughout the letter. The response contains frequent and severe errors in sentence structure, tense usage, and agreement (e.g., 'At present i have study in Canada', 'how can handle the single way', 'I am also learn in country is different language people'). Simple sentences are often poorly constructed, and attempts at more complex structures almost universally result in structural breakdown and non-standard syntax. These errors frequently impede communication and place the response firmly in the Band 4 category.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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