Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-29

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You recently received a letter from a friend asking for advice about whether to go to college or to try to get a job. You think he/she should get a job.

Write a letter to this friend. In your letter

• say why he/she would not enjoy going to college
• explain why getting a job is a good idea for him/her
• suggest types of job that would be suitable for him/her

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. ,

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear Leon

I think you are doing well, as per your quetion that asked me about choice between college education and finging a job.

I assumed you will not be able to enjoy your college education up on your current situation.because of mainly you are good at sports as I know.sins you began to follow sports you could not been able to concentrate on your academic studies.moreover you have a passionate aboute sports rather than academics.

Therefore I think you better to do a job than a college education.most importantly your have to earn enough money to mange your home expenses,sins your father not in a good health condition.

I would prefer a job that releven to your skill of your cricketing experiences.you have a academic and practical qualifications in this sport.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all three bullet points: it explains why college might not be suitable, suggests why a job is better, and proposes a type of work. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum, which limits the development of ideas. The points are mentioned but lack the depth required for a higher band. For example, the suggestion for a job is brief and lacks specific details about the nature of the work. Because the length requirement was not met, the development of the response is constrained, leading to a lower score in this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into short paragraphs, but the flow between ideas is often disjointed. While some cohesive devices like 'moreover' and 'therefore' are used, they are sometimes applied incorrectly or in a way that feels mechanical. The lack of clear transitions between sentences makes the progression of ideas feel somewhat abrupt. Additionally, the punctuation is inconsistent, which further hinders the logical flow of the text. To improve, you should focus on using linking words more naturally and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally basic and repetitive. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'up on your current situation' instead of 'given your current situation' and 'releven' (a misspelling of 'relevant'). The range of vocabulary is limited, relying on simple structures to convey meaning. While the message is understandable, the lack of precision and the presence of spelling errors (e.g., 'quetion', 'finging', 'sins', 'mange') indicate a need for a wider range of vocabulary and better attention to spelling and word formation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('your father not in a good health condition'), tense usage ('I assumed you will not be able'), and sentence structure. Many sentences are fragmented or run-on, and there is a lack of complex sentence structures. The frequent errors in basic grammar, such as missing articles and incorrect prepositions, suggest that you need to focus on foundational accuracy before attempting more complex grammatical forms.

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