Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 Amrit,

I hope you are well. I am writing to give you advise about to try job rather then enjoy going college. I remember that recently you were asking me for advise regarding the job and college.

I think that getting a job is good idea. I remembered that you want to become a accountant, you need to start finding a job for gaining more knowledge. It will give you a opportunity to learn and how to deal with the difficulties. This will help you to learn how to work with collogues and team as far as you will get paid for your hard-work. Slowly, when you gain experience in your job you will unlock new positions.

Although, I know that you have the confidence and sharp mind using it in job will open more doors for you in-future.

I hope you will take my advise and will this helpful.

kind regards,

Dhruv

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points, though the development is somewhat limited. You explain why a job is beneficial and suggest a career path (accountant), but you fail to explicitly address the first bullet point: why your friend would not enjoy college. You mention college in the opening but do not provide reasons for why it might be unsuitable for them. To improve, ensure each bullet point is given a dedicated sentence or two of explanation. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and the purpose is clear throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your argument. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Phrases like 'I think that' and 'I hope' are used frequently. There are also some issues with referencing, such as the unclear connection between the opening paragraph and the subsequent advice. To reach a higher band, try using a wider variety of linking words and transition phrases, such as 'Furthermore,' 'Consequently,' or 'On the other hand,' to connect your ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are several errors in word choice and spelling that affect the flow. For example, you use 'advise' (a verb) instead of 'advice' (a noun) twice, and 'collogues' is a misspelling of 'colleagues'. You also use 'to try job' instead of 'to try getting a job'. While your meaning is clear, the range of vocabulary is limited, and these persistent errors in word form and spelling prevent a higher score. Focus on learning the correct noun/verb forms of common words.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentences, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include missing articles ('become a accountant'), incorrect prepositions ('in-future'), and awkward phrasing ('will this helpful'). Some sentences are grammatically incomplete or incorrectly structured, such as 'I am writing to give you advise about to try job rather then enjoy going college.' These errors occur frequently and occasionally require the reader to re-read to understand the intended meaning. Increasing your control over basic sentence structure and article usage will significantly improve your score.

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

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