Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-07

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 5.0)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to contribute to your article, The book that influenced me most . The book has the greatest impact on my life is that abdul kalam life story.

The story about the young indian scientis . He born in small village to Indian president life journy meancense in story. Abdul kalam born in small village in odisha.

Hear I meancence about his childwood time strugle and also how to made first rocket for india. His first rocket move on cycle. his study completed just 12th standarde due to his poor conditions. Last ten tear his as an indian president position. In his book lost of story its influnced me.

This story ideal for all indian people. Because Abdul kalam not a only good scientiest also good president. His left for his president house this time take only two pair clothes. his every thing donates in poor people.

Your Faithfully,

Ghanshyam Patel

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: describing the book, explaining its influence, and discussing its potential impact on others. However, the development of these ideas is limited. The description of the book is fragmented, and the explanation of how it influenced the writer is somewhat vague, relying on general statements rather than specific personal reflection. While the task requirements are met, the content lacks the depth and clarity expected for a higher band score. The tone is generally appropriate for a magazine contribution, but the lack of detail makes the response feel underdeveloped.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is organized into short paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is often disjointed. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link sentences and ideas smoothly. For example, the transition between the description of the book and the personal influence is abrupt. The use of referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the narrative flow. While the overall structure is logical in terms of the task requirements, the mechanical nature of the writing and the lack of effective linking words hinder the flow of information.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. There are frequent errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'meancense' instead of 'meaning' or 'strugle' for 'struggle'. The student relies on basic vocabulary to convey ideas, which restricts the ability to express complex thoughts about the book's influence. Some phrases are awkward or non-standard, such as 'his first rocket move on cycle'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the lack of precision and the high frequency of spelling errors significantly impact the quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

The response contains a high frequency of grammatical errors, including issues with verb tense, subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure. Examples include 'He born in small village' (should be 'He was born') and 'his study completed just 12th standarde' (should be 'he completed his studies up to the 12th standard'). There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the errors often impede the reader's understanding of the intended meaning. The punctuation is also inconsistent, which further affects the clarity of the text.

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