Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-20

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 4.5)

Dear Rahul

How are you doing, I was glad to receive you letter , as i see you are confused about two things wether to join a college or join a job , i am considering study is more important for you than job .

Firstly, as we studied together till 12th grade i know that you are brilliant in studying and u have a sharp memory which is a great skill . You would join any college around the city because you got first position in recent exams getting admission is a piece of cake for you . You should make a research on your interest of study and try to make your future in that field .

On the other hand , I know you can get a job as well that will make you independent . You have a good learning skills if you join as a learning stage or as a low level you will learn everything much faster and can get a good position in any company and make you and your family happy .

My advice is still a college for you . I would suggest to get a research and take that course which is suitable to you and join a good college but at the end decision is yours , let me know what have you decide .

Best wishes

Ted

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The letter gives a clear recommendation, but it is the opposite of the task: you advise Rahul to attend college, whereas you were asked to recommend getting a job. As a result, the required explanation of why he would not enjoy college is missing; instead, you describe him as “brilliant in studying” and encourage further study. You do mention that a job could make him independent and help him progress, but this point is brief, and you do not suggest any suitable types of job. The greeting and friendly closing fit the purpose of a personal letter, but the main content only partially fulfils the instructions. Address each bullet directly and keep your recommendation consistent throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a recognisable letter structure, with an opening, body paragraphs, advice and a sign-off. “Firstly” and “On the other hand” signal a change of topic, and the reader can follow the broad contrast between college and work. However, the progression is weakened because the opening says study is more important, the job paragraph briefly supports employment, and the conclusion returns to college. This makes the overall argument difficult to follow. Some sentences also contain several ideas joined by commas, such as the opening sentence, so relationships between points are not always clear. Organise the body around the requested points and use separate, focused sentences to make the reasoning easier to track.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough everyday vocabulary to communicate the general topic, including “independent,” “sharp memory,” “admission,” and “good position.” The tone is broadly suitable for writing to a friend. However, the range is limited and several phrases are inaccurate or awkward, which reduces clarity: “make a research” and “get a research” are not natural collocations, while “join as a learning stage” does not clearly describe a job. There are also spelling and word-form slips, such as “wether” and “your letter” written as “you letter.” Choose precise job-related vocabulary and check common collocations. For example, say “research your interests” and name a specific role that matches Rahul’s abilities.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The letter attempts both simple and longer sentence forms, including clauses with “because” and “if,” and the main message is generally understandable. However, complex sentences are often poorly controlled, and frequent errors affect readability. The opening joins separate clauses with commas (“How are you doing, I was glad…”), and the final sentence combines several ideas without clear punctuation. Other examples include “you are confused about two things wether to join” and “what have you decide,” where sentence structure or verb form is faulty. Capitalisation and punctuation are also inconsistent. Practise separating independent clauses, forming indirect questions correctly (“what you have decided”), and checking subject–verb agreement and articles before sending the letter.

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

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