Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-26

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 Raj,

How have you been?

yesterday, Manoj your brother and i bumped into each other into market and i got to know that you are planning to study abroad for your hire studies and you wanted to know about my experience into the same course. To tell you that i am writing this letter.

I particulary took gerontology and palliative care course in a ABC university of canada. It was two years diploma course. Intially, i searched on several online plateforms about several courses but nothing was aliging to my interest and skills. Then, i came to know about one particulary agency who were advertising this course as a partnership with the institution. I immediately took deep dive into search area and contacted the agency for further inquiries.

During my stay i got familirized myself to different aspects of this foreign land. I came to know about people from numerous cultural background, their natural habitates, about their food. Apart from these, one particular thing that astonished me that how puntucal they are related to their work.

Studing abroad not only enchancd my knowedge but also teached me hand on experience in real life. This course boost my confidene in my nursing carreer by providing a complete distinct environment. Procedures and technology which i just heard here, experinced in practical ways.

I would highly reccomend you should go and opt this programme. I wish you al the best for this.

See you soon

ABCD

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the three requested points: you name a university in Canada, describe cultural observations, and explain how practical experience and confidence supported your nursing studies. The letter also has an appropriate greeting and a friendly recommendation. However, the study location and course details are not fully clear: you say you took a course at “a ABC university” and then describe it as a two-year diploma, rather than clearly explaining the year-abroad placement. The country-learning point is relevant but mostly a list of people, habitats and food, with punctuality as the only developed observation. Explain more specifically what you learned and connect the practical experience to your university studies to make the response more complete and developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable letter structure, with an opening, separate paragraphs for the course, cultural experience and academic benefits, and a closing recommendation. This gives the reader a coherent overall route through the information. Some links between ideas are less clear or mechanical, however. For example, “To tell you that i am writing this letter” does not connect naturally to the preceding explanation, and the course-search story takes up space without clearly advancing the requested account of your year abroad. The paragraph about the country also moves quickly from cultural backgrounds to habitats, food and punctuality. Use clearer transitions and keep each paragraph focused on one task point; make references such as “this course” and “these” more explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “gerontology,” “palliative care,” “cultural background,” “practical ways” and “distinct environment.” These choices show some range beyond basic everyday language. However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable and sometimes make the message harder to read, as in “particulary,” “familirized,” “puntucal,” “enchancd” and “knowedge.” Several combinations are also unnatural, such as “took deep dive into search area” and “boost my confidence in my nursing career by providing a complete distinct environment.” Choose familiar, accurate collocations rather than forcing complex phrases, and proofread spelling carefully. More precise wording for what you observed and how it helped your studies would also strengthen the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including the sentence beginning “During my stay” and the explanation of how the course affected your confidence. However, errors occur frequently, and some sentences are difficult to follow. For example, “yesterday, Manoj your brother and i bumped into each other into market” has problems with sentence construction, articles and prepositions, while “I came to know about one particulary agency who were advertising this course” has an unclear relative clause and agreement. The final recommendation, “I would highly reccomend you should go,” also combines structures incorrectly. Practise building accurate sentences with one clear main clause, then add subordinate clauses; check tense, articles, agreement and punctuation, as well as capitalising “I.”

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