Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-03
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 Ayesha, Assalamualikum, my dear friend. i hope so you will be fine and i received your letter i understand your situations whether to go to college or to try get a job. i know you are confused but don't worry we will solve the solution. after thinking carefully, i believe that getting a job would be better option for you right now. To be very honest, I don't think you would enjoy going to college at this point. You have always told me that you find classroom learning quit boring and that you are prefer practical work. Also, college requires a lot of time, money and academic pressure, and i know you are not interested in studying . You feel frustrated and unmotivated.
On the other hand, getting a job is good idea for you because you find everything, you feel relax and calm ,that's was your dream. In addition you will financial independent and provide real world experience. A job will also help the to boost your skills, gives different types of knowledge and enhances your abilities so that is great for you and which is valuable for your future goals. I really hope you take my advice into consideration.
Best wishes,
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
You have addressed all three bullet points of the prompt: explaining why college might not be enjoyable, why a job is a good idea, and suggesting suitable types of work. However, the third bullet point regarding specific types of jobs is missing from your response. You mention that a job will 'boost your skills,' but you do not actually suggest any specific roles (e.g., retail, administrative assistant, or apprenticeship). To reach a higher band, ensure every part of the prompt is explicitly answered. Your position is clear throughout, and the tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use some cohesive devices like 'On the other hand' and 'In addition' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by mechanical errors and some awkward phrasing, such as 'we will solve the solution.' The use of referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between sentences could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph focuses on a single, well-developed point will help you achieve a higher score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to communicate your ideas clearly, such as 'practical work,' 'unmotivated,' and 'financial independent.' However, there are several errors in word choice and form, such as 'you are prefer' instead of 'you prefer' and 'financial independent' instead of 'financially independent.' You also use some repetitive phrasing. To improve, try to use more precise collocations and ensure you are using the correct word forms (adjectives vs. adverbs). Expanding your vocabulary to include more topic-specific terms related to career and education would also be beneficial.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include 'i hope so you will be fine' (incorrect structure), 'that's was your dream' (tense error), and 'help the to boost' (extra word). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some missing capital letters for 'I' and awkward spacing. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and basic sentence construction will help improve your accuracy.
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