Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-09

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 Pedra,

I write you this letter to inform you about my last study in abroad as part of my university course.

During my last study in abroad it was very interesting, because you can incounter a defferent kind of culture while you were studying. However it was a huge oppotunity for us to study abroad because not all of us can experience this.

My year of abroad was very helpful for me because you learn more about your course, not only my studies and also how to adjust their weather that you need to survive while studying. Somehow for us to know their knowledge we need to be very friendly for other nationalities because they are the one will help you in times your needs.

I am looking forward to your studies and goodluck.

Sincerely yours,

Reynaldo Ocana

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

You make an attempt to discuss the year abroad and explain that it offered cultural experience and helped you learn about your course and adapt to a different environment. However, the task is only partially addressed: you never say where you studied, and your comments about the country remain general rather than describing what you learnt about it. The explanation of how the experience helped your studies is also unclear; for example, “you learn more about your course” does not specify what knowledge or skills improved. The response is 11 words below the required minimum, which also limits the development of your ideas. Include a specific location, a concrete observation about the country, and a clear study-related benefit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The letter has a recognisable structure, with a greeting, several paragraphs, and a closing, and the ideas are grouped broadly around the experience and its benefits. However, the progression is difficult to follow because the opening says you are writing to inform Pedra, while the next paragraph does not identify where you went. Connections between ideas are also sometimes unclear: “However” does not introduce a clear contrast, and “Somehow” does not show how the point about friendliness follows from the previous sentence. Pronouns such as “you,” “we,” and “their” shift without clear reference. Organise the body around the three requested points and use linking phrases that show the relationship between them.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some vocabulary relevant to studying abroad, including “culture,” “opportunity,” “nationalities,” and “adjust,” so the reader can identify the general topic. However, the range is limited and several spelling and word-choice errors make parts of the letter harder to understand, such as “incounter,” “defferent,” and “oppotunity.” Some phrases are also unnatural or imprecise, including “study in abroad” and “their knowledge.” Choose more accurate expressions and check spelling carefully. For example, “study abroad” is more natural than “study in abroad,” while “learn about the local culture” would express your intended idea more clearly than “know their knowledge.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to use both simple and longer sentences, including a reason clause beginning “because” and a sentence with “not only … and also.” However, control is uneven, and errors in sentence structure, tense, and agreement sometimes make the meaning unclear. In “I write you this letter,” the verb form and sentence pattern are not appropriate; “I am writing to tell you” would be clearer. The shift from “you can” to “you were studying” in the same sentence is also inconsistent, and “they are the one will help you” lacks a correctly formed relative clause and agreement. Practise building accurate complex sentences, while keeping pronouns and verb tenses consistent.

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