Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-30

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 .....,

Hope you are doing well. I received your letter yesterday in which you asked me to share my experience regarding course and country, and tell you how it is beneficial for me.

I got admission in Stanford University, Canada in surgical specialization. Although, this course is available is Pakistan, i heard alot about the reputation of this university. This institute is linking with an advanced hospital where practical of this course completed. Though, this course has two semesters, you can also take it as a year.

While stuyding from a different country give you a greater experince about diverse population and different organization systems. When we encounter with their amazing inventions, it gives you amazing ideas , and enhance critical thinking.

I had a wonderfull experince there. I got a chance to work with expertise in Surgrey. This did not only develop my skills, but it also build

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You make a relevant attempt to respond to the letter by naming Stanford University and describing exposure to a different population, systems, and inventions. You also begin to explain how working with surgical experts developed your skills. However, the task is only partly addressed: the country is not clearly identified (the phrase “Stanford University, Canada” is confusing), and the learning you gained about that country remains general rather than describing a specific cultural or practical discovery. The benefit to your studies is started but not completed, so the reader cannot see the full explanation. Develop each bullet point with clear, personal details, and finish the letter with a complete explanation and an appropriate closing.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has some organisation: it opens by referring to the recipient’s question, then moves from the university to observations about studying abroad and finally to work experience. This gives the reader a basic sense of the intended progression. However, the ideas are not developed into a clear overall sequence, and the response ends abruptly at “it also build,” leaving the final point unfinished. Connections such as “Although” and “Though” do not clearly show the relationships between the ideas, and the paragraphing does not separate the three requested topics effectively. Use one paragraph for each main point, link ideas with accurate, varied transitions, and provide a complete ending to the letter.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt some topic-related vocabulary, including “reputation,” “diverse population,” “organization systems,” “critical thinking,” and “practical.” These choices show an effort to discuss education and the experience of studying abroad. However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling or word-choice problems make parts less clear, such as “stuyding,” “experince,” “wonderfull,” and “Surgrey.” Some combinations are also unnatural, including “got admission in” and “practical of this course completed.” Choose more natural collocations and check spelling carefully. For example, “was admitted to” and “the course included practical training” would express your meaning more clearly and appropriately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, for example, “Although, this course is available is Pakistan…” and “When we encounter with their amazing inventions…”. However, complex structures are often faulty, and frequent errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction can make the message difficult to follow. Examples include “this course is available is Pakistan,” “this course has two semesters,” and “it also build.” The opening also shifts between “you” and “me,” which weakens grammatical consistency. Practise building accurate clauses before adding linking words, and check that each sentence has a complete subject and correctly formed verb. Reading the letter aloud can help identify unfinished sentences.

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