Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-23

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 friend,

It's been decade, I have' ent heard from you since. Last time I saw you was in Rahul's birthday. Now, you are been like Hailey's comet, never seen back. Though I, would not criticize you much as I am also mutually responsible. I've heard about you asking about my suggestion that what would be better studying or getting a job. As, per my understanding, we both attended same class in junior high school. you were not good at studies, I've noticed you always were interested in craft section only.

its also believed that winds could get changed but I would still bet on winds in your case as you would certainly not like college.

As per my experience, I would suggest that you would do better if you start a sort of employment. As, like me I dropped my college and got hired at super store, wishing 6 months I got promoted to assistant store manager. it means that if you start early you have high chances for promotion.

moreover, I think that you would do better at art gallery, my girlfriend works at one, I would help you for reference if you need one. let me know if, also would catch you later.

best wishes,

parth

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly state why college is not suitable for your friend, explain the benefits of employment, and suggest specific job types. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the explanation of why he would not enjoy college relies on a vague reference to his past performance in junior high school rather than a more detailed argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that your reasons are fully extended and supported with more specific, logical detail. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, maintaining a consistent personal perspective throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is generally coherent, and the progression of ideas is logical. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'moreover' and 'as per my experience' to link your points. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire body of the letter is somewhat clumped, making it harder to follow the transition between the three required points. Additionally, some referencing is slightly unclear, such as the phrase 'winds could get changed,' which is an idiom that does not quite fit the context. Improving the use of paragraph breaks and a wider variety of linking words would enhance the flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'mutually responsible' and 'promotion.' However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'I've ent heard' (I haven't heard), 'mutually responsible' (where 'equally responsible' would be more natural), and 'wishing 6 months' (within 6 months). These errors occasionally distract the reader, though they do not impede overall communication. To improve, focus on learning common collocations and ensuring that your vocabulary choices are precise and contextually appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

Your writing shows a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'It's been decade' (missing article), 'you are been like Hailey's comet' (incorrect verb tense), and 'I dropped my college' (incorrect preposition/verb usage). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the misuse of commas in phrases like 'As, per my understanding' and 'let me know if, also would catch you later.' While the meaning remains clear, the high frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band score.

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

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