Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-06

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 Erica,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing a letter to advice you whether you should go to college or opt for a job. I believe you have to do job to support your family on economy basis.

I know that you would not enjoy going to college for a fact because for a long run it is a waste of money. Getting a additional certificate will not be beneficial.

One important reason for getting a job rather than going to college is that adds experience to your profile. In addition, the kind of fields that you are going is required lot of practice rather than a increase number of degrees. Moreover, satisfactory job pays you higher that will fufill family's need and create happy environment between members of the family.

To consider, there are number of jobs that are available for you such as nurse, caregiver, babysitter, assistance for elder individual.

Thanks for considering me. I hope you understand my point.

Best wishes,

jhanvi.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly state why college might not be suitable, explain the benefits of working, and provide relevant job examples. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument that college is a 'waste of money' is a strong claim that could have been supported with more specific reasoning to reach a higher band. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and your position is consistent throughout the piece. To improve, try to expand on your points with more detailed explanations or personal anecdotes to make the advice feel more persuasive and fully developed.

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 such as 'In addition,' 'Moreover,' and 'To consider' to link your ideas. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical or slightly unnatural, such as 'To consider,' which is not the most standard way to introduce a list of suggestions. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring they are used in a more natural, idiomatic way would help elevate your score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your message clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'certificate,' 'profile,' and 'caregiver.' However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'on economy basis' (should be 'for financial reasons'), 'increase number of degrees' (should be 'increasing number of degrees'), and 'assistance for elder individual' (should be 'assistant for the elderly'). To achieve a higher band, focus on learning common collocations and using more precise vocabulary to express your ideas, rather than relying on direct translations or slightly inaccurate phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader, such as 'I am writing a letter to advice you' (should be 'advise'), 'you have to do job' (should be 'get a job'), and 'pays you higher' (should be 'pays more'). Additionally, there are issues with article usage and pluralization, such as 'create happy environment' (should be 'a happy environment'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to limit your score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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