Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-04

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 Manpreet,

I hope you doing well. I got your letter and i am very thankfull to you that you choose me to discuss the important decision of your life with me.

I know that you are standing on crucial part of your life where you have a two choices.

Studing further in college or get a job.

From my point of view, You should choose job rather than study because since your chilhood i noted that you love practical work more than study and in college you will feel boring beacuse they foucs on written material.

If you will get a job then it would be helpfull for you to manage you expenses and support to your family as i know you from middle class family and if you an intrest you can do part time study with your job which require funds and that can be possible with a job.

I know you have an interest in medical so try to find a job in hospitals and pharmacies. They are available 24 hours so it would be easy for you to select a shift according to your schedule. If you need any more help let me know i am here for you.

See you soon.

Your lovingly,

Harvinder

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt, earning it a solid standing in this criterion. You clearly outline why college might not suit your friend by mentioning a preference for practical work, explain the benefits of getting a job such as managing expenses and supporting family, and suggest suitable jobs in hospitals and pharmacies. The position is clear throughout the letter. However, some ideas remain slightly under-developed rather than fully extended, which is characteristic of the mid-range descriptors. For instance, the suggestion about balancing a part-time study with a job is introduced but not fully expanded with details. To reach a higher level, you could flesh out your main points with more specific supporting details or personal examples regarding your friend's practical skills.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter maintains a coherent overall arrangement and follows an appropriate friendly letter format with a clear beginning and sign-off. Paragraphing is used to separate different points, such as the critique of college, the advantages of employment, and specific job suggestions. Progression is generally clear, though referencing and cohesive devices occasionally feel a bit mechanical or basic. For example, sentences are linked with simple connectors like 'and' or 'if', rather than a more varied range of cohesive tools. To improve cohesion further and move towards the next band, you should ensure smoother transitions between your paragraphs and use a wider variety of referencing expressions to connect your ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your main points clearly, but it shows limitations that keep it at this level. You make several word choice and spelling errors, such as 'thankfull', 'Studing', 'boring' instead of 'bored', and 'foucs'. There are also minor awkward collocations, such as 'choose job rather than study'. While you attempt some less common vocabulary related to the workplace and daily life, the noticeable errors and restricted range mean the vocabulary is only minimally adequate for expressing your thoughts. To achieve a higher band, you need to expand your lexical repertoire, improve your spelling accuracy, and use words with greater precision regarding context and collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting structures like conditional sentences ('If you will get a job then it would be helpfull...'). However, your writing contains several grammatical errors, particularly regarding verb forms, subject-verb agreement, and articles, such as 'I hope you doing well', 'you have a two choices', and 'required funds'. Punctuation is also slightly flawed in places, such as unnecessary capitalization and fragmented sentences like 'Studing further in college or get a job.' These errors occasionally require the reader to slow down, though they do not completely impede communication. To reach the next band, you should aim for a higher proportion of error-free sentences and refine your control over complex structures and verb tenses.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.