Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-28

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

All new employees at your workplace have a mentor - an experienced colleague who gives them advice and support in their career. As a new employee, you have been given details of your mentor.

Write a letter to introduce yourself to your new mentor. In your letter

• give a brief outline of your previous studies and work experience

• explain what help you hope your mentor can give

• suggest arrangements for a first meeting with your mentor

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear....... ,

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I want to express my concern about my mentor at the workplace. Recently, I have joined a new job and there all the employees are new including me, so I need to get assistance from the mentor for career success.

Firstly, I want to explain about my previous study as I have a post graduation degree from science institution. Along with this, I used to working as a laboratory assistant in the University, and I worked as an assistant for approximately 2 years.

In IT company I did have any previous experience so I need help for the managment tasks and the checklist that is provided to me everyday by the HR department. Initially, I have finding a quite difficult but with proper guidance and training I can learn more about the tasks.

I have few plans for the first meeting with the mentor and I want to meet him in the mentor office where we can discuss all the work difficulties, task, and time management too.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Lovejeet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You cover the three requested points: you mention your postgraduate science studies and two years as a laboratory assistant, identify areas where you want support, and propose meeting in the mentor’s office. However, the purpose and relationship are not always clear. “I want to express my concern about my mentor” sounds like a complaint rather than an introduction, and saying that all employees are new conflicts with the task’s description of an experienced mentor. Your request for help with management tasks and daily checklists is relevant, but the kind of career guidance you hope to receive could be explained more specifically. The meeting suggestion also needs practical details, such as proposing a day or asking when the mentor is available. A clearer, warmer introduction and fuller development of these points would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a generally understandable sequence: you introduce the situation, describe your background, explain your support needs, and suggest a meeting. Paragraphing helps separate these topics, and “Firstly” and “Along with this” signal relationships between ideas. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. For example, “Recently, I have joined a new job and there all the employees are new including me” combines ideas that do not fit together logically, while “In IT company I did have any previous experience” is difficult to follow. The final meeting paragraph lists several topics without showing which are most important. Use clearer transitions and refer consistently to your mentor, and make the progression from introduction to request more natural.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main points, including “laboratory assistant,” “career success,” “guidance,” and “time management.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are noticeably inaccurate, which sometimes makes the intended meaning less clear. “Express my concern about my mentor” suggests dissatisfaction, not a friendly introduction; “previous study” is less natural than a phrase describing your academic background; and “management tasks” is vague in this context. There are also spelling and word-form issues, such as “managment” and “post graduation.” Aim for precise, natural phrases suited to a professional letter, and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the reader can usually identify your main message. However, errors occur frequently, particularly in verb forms, articles, and sentence construction. For example, “I used to working” needs a different verb pattern, and “I have finding a quite difficult” has an incorrect verb form and structure. The sentence “In IT company I did have any previous experience” is missing a negative element and an article, making the meaning uncertain. Some clauses are joined awkwardly, as in the opening paragraph. Practise accurate past and present forms, article use, and complete sentence patterns. Shorter, carefully checked sentences would improve clarity while you build control of more complex structures.

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