Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-04

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 would like to inform you that

"My Tale Story" is the book that

influenced me in different ways.

Firstly, the writer portrayed the story; it's very recommendable. Moreover, I learned a lot of things from this book, such as animal survival, the way of detachment from others, and so on. Furthermore, this book explains the characteristics of

human nature and behaving of characterstics of the people.

Lastly, this book will help to influence others as well, and they will get a chance to

learn a lot of things; also, they will adopt the qualities of a good person.

Thank you.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you have addressed all three bullet points, the content is very brief and lacks the necessary depth and detail expected for a letter to an editor. For example, you mention 'animal survival' and 'human nature' but do not elaborate on these concepts or provide specific examples from the book to support your claims. To improve, you must expand on your points by providing concrete illustrations and personal reflections to reach the required length and demonstrate a fuller development of your ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is organized into short paragraphs, which is a positive start. You have used some basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'Lastly' to link your ideas. However, the progression of ideas is quite mechanical and the sentences are often disconnected. The lack of sufficient content makes the overall flow feel fragmented. To achieve a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that your sentences flow naturally from one to the next, rather than just listing points in a repetitive structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is quite limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'learned a lot of things' and 'good person' are very basic and lack the precision required for a higher band score. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'behaving of characterstics', which is awkward and unclear. To improve, you should aim to use more sophisticated vocabulary related to literature and personal growth. Instead of repeating 'things', try to use more specific nouns that accurately describe the themes or lessons you encountered in the book.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The sentence structures are predominantly simple, and there are noticeable errors in grammar and word formation, such as 'behaving of characterstics'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the lack of complex sentence structures limits your ability to demonstrate grammatical control. To improve, focus on using a mix of simple and complex sentences, and pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and correct word forms. Proofreading your work for basic errors in punctuation and spelling will also help to improve the overall accuracy of your writing.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.