Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-13

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 Gurpreet,

I hope you are doing well. I know you have completed schooling and a you have a great interest in cooking so i thing is best option to trying a job in food industry because demand and marketing value is high in food industry and also not required any high degree.

I am also well aware of your family condition because your father injured last year in major road accident. Now, you are the only who can manage every things. Moreover, I understand that you are unable going to college but i may suggest online degree courses which is best option for you to continue your study as well as job in food sectors.

If you starting online degree course like hotel management you are not only eligible for job but also you can gain practical experience which is compulsory in food marketing. i suggest that you capability to manager study and job.

I am sure this idea works perfectly for you, now i am waiting for your prompt reply.

Best wishes,

Jass

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly state why college might not be the best choice given the friend's family situation, explain the benefits of working, and suggest a specific industry. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the explanation of why he would not enjoy college is tied primarily to financial and family pressure rather than personal interest or academic suitability. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is fully extended with more detailed reasoning. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, maintaining a consistent informal yet supportive perspective throughout the piece.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, with each focusing on a specific aspect of the prompt. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'If', and 'not only... but also' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by awkward phrasing and minor errors in sentence structure, such as 'i thing is best option to trying a job'. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the transition between the family situation and the suggestion of online courses could be smoother. Overall, the progression of ideas is logical and easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a band 6.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your message clearly. You use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'food industry', 'hotel management', and 'practical experience'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'marketing value' instead of 'market demand' and 'manage every things' instead of 'manage everything'. The range is sufficient to communicate your points, but it lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands. Focusing on collocations and more natural phrasing would significantly improve your score in this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the conditional 'If you starting online degree course...'. However, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('your father injured' instead of 'was injured'), incorrect verb forms ('unable going' instead of 'unable to go'), and missing articles. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the capitalization of 'i'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable and suggest a need for more careful proofreading and a better grasp of basic sentence construction.

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

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