Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-24

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 Clark,

I am fine and i hope you and your family will doing well. I received your letter yesterday and I am very glad to know that you have passed your grade 12 obtaining very good marks.

In your letter you ask me for my advice about your future plans. I recommend you to try to get a job. I think you will not enjoy the college life because you are very introvert and shy. Apart from that by getting a job you can support financially to your family and your correspondence studies .

i suggest you to try for a data operator job because I know you are very good in typing and data entry. I still remember computer science was your favourite subject in school. At the end i wish you all the best and say hi to all family for me.

ok bye bye , see you soon.

with love,

john .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt: explaining why college might not be suitable, the benefits of working, and suggesting specific job types. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For example, the suggestion of a 'data operator' job is relevant, but the explanation could be more detailed to fully explore the benefits for the friend's future. The response is clear and maintains a consistent position throughout, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. There is a clear opening and closing. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat basic and occasionally mechanical. For instance, the transition 'Apart from that' is used, but the overall flow between sentences could be improved with a wider variety of linking words. Referencing is generally clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate for a personal letter, justifying a Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their advice clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'introvert' and 'financially', but the range is somewhat limited. There are minor errors in word choice, such as 'support financially to your family' (should be 'support your family financially') and 'correspondence studies'. While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more precise control over collocations and word forms to reach a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'i hope you and your family will doing well' (should be 'will be doing well') and 'i suggest you to try' (should be 'I suggest that you try'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of lowercase 'i' and spacing issues. While the meaning is always clear, the frequency of these errors limits the score to a 5.5, as the control over complex structures is not yet consistent.

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

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