Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-05

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

A magazine wants to include contributions from its readers for an article called 'The book that influenced me most'.

Write a letter to the editor of the magazine about the book that influenced you most. In your letter

- describe what this book was about
- explain how this book influenced you
- say whether this book would be likely to influence other people

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to let you know a book called 'Ford vs Ferrari' that had an influenced on me.

'Ford vs Ferrari' is a autobiographical book by new publication called Ford Motor Company Limited, it is about how they produced a super car which eventually helped them win in a race at '24 Hours LeMans' against Ferrari a company that was dominating for last 50 years.

Books are very helpful but this book really helped me rewire my brain on how to improve my communication, and also how I can upgrade my timetable and improve time managemnet.

I am sure that many people will find this book helpful and will also influence them to improve themselves to compete against someone who is wrong and win and get trophy in home.

Your faithfully,

Rizvan Vahora

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address all three requested points: you identify the book, summarise its subject, explain its effect on your communication and time management, and predict that it could help other readers. However, the response is under the required 150 words, and the ideas are only briefly developed. For example, you mention that the book helped you “rewire my brain,” but do not give a specific example of a change you made. The final claim that readers could compete against “someone who is wrong” is unclear and does not explain why the book would influence them. Add concrete details about the book’s message and your own experience, and clarify who might benefit and how.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a clear overall arrangement: an opening purpose, a paragraph describing the book, a paragraph about its personal effect, and a closing prediction. This makes the main points easy to locate. However, the progression within some paragraphs is abrupt, and links between ideas are limited. For instance, the move from improving communication to upgrading your timetable is not explained, while the final sentence combines the book’s influence, competition, and winning a trophy without a clear relationship between them. Use linking phrases to show cause and effect, and develop each point in a separate, logically connected sentence. The letter format is recognisable, although the sign-off should be made consistent with the formal greeting.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “autobiographical,” “dominating,” “communication,” and “time management,” which helps convey the subject and claimed benefits. However, the range is limited, and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unclear. “Had an influenced on me” does not express the intended meaning naturally, and “upgrade my timetable” is an unusual way to describe improving time management. “Get trophy in home” is also difficult to interpret. Spelling errors such as “managemnet” reduce accuracy. Choose more natural phrases and check spelling; for example, explain that the book changed your approach to planning or motivated you to improve.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response includes both simple statements and attempts at longer structures, such as the sentence explaining how Ford produced a car that helped it win a race. However, control is uneven, and errors in articles, agreement, and sentence construction sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. Examples include “a autobiographical book,” “a company that was dominating,” and the long description of the race, which needs clearer punctuation and sentence boundaries. The sentence beginning “Books are very helpful but this book…” also joins several ideas without a clear grammatical structure. Practise accurate article use and build longer sentences around one main clause, checking that each added detail is clearly attached.

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