Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-16

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 ABOUT THE BOOK WHICH GIVE ME MOTIVATION.

THE MAHABHARATA IS THE BOOK WHICH INSPIRED ME ALOT .BOOK IS BASED ON THE HISTORICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN LORD KRISHNA . BOOK DEPICT HOW KINDNESS WIN OVER THE DEVIL INSTANT.

I AM FOND OF THIS BOOK , THE CHARACTERS GIVES ME STRENGTH TO FIGHT AGAINST THE WRONG AND TAKE NECESSARY STEPS AGAINST IT . YOU NEED TO BE COURAGES AGAINST THIS CRUEL WORLD , WHETHER YOU NEED BE AGAINST YOUR OWN FAMILY MEMBERS , ONE OF THE MORAL OF THE BOOK IS SIBLINGS WHERE AGAINST EACH OTHER TO FIGHT FOR TRUTHFULNESS.

THE MAHABHARATA WILL INSPIRED TO NEW GENERATION IN MANY WAYS. YOU SHOULD MENTION ABOUT IT IN YOUR MAGAZINE . THE GENERATION Z NEEDS KNOW ABOUT HOW THEIR ANCESTOR FOUGHT FOR TRUTHFULNESS.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU ,

YOUR SINCERELY ,

SMIT

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

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. For example, the description of the Mahabharata as a 'historical connection between Lord Krishna' is vague and lacks clarity. The explanation of how it influenced you is somewhat repetitive, focusing on 'fighting against the wrong' without providing specific personal context. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your ideas with more concrete examples or personal anecdotes to demonstrate a deeper engagement with the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'The Mahabharata is the book' and 'I am fond of this book' create a choppy flow. There is a lack of varied linking words to connect sentences and ideas smoothly. Additionally, the transition between the description of the book and its influence on others is abrupt. Improving the use of transition signals (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in addition') would significantly improve the logical flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and often repetitive. You rely on simple descriptors like 'good' or 'cruel' and struggle with accurate word choice, such as 'The Mahabharata will inspired to new generation' (should be 'inspire the new generation'). There are also issues with word forms, such as 'courages' instead of 'courageous'. While the meaning is generally clear, the range of vocabulary is insufficient to express more complex thoughts or nuances. To improve, try to incorporate more precise adjectives and verbs related to literature and personal growth.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('The characters gives me strength', 'siblings where against each other') and tense inconsistencies. The sentence structures are mostly simple, and attempts at more complex sentences often result in errors. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas and periods. While these errors do not completely prevent communication, they are frequent enough to cause some difficulty for the reader. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would be highly beneficial.

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