Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-24

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 Maskeen,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. In response to your previous letter, I would like to recommend you that opt for a job instead of studying ahead. You are familiar with a urge to earn own money which started sprouting once we got a minimum qualification required to search for job. That's what, you stated in the letter that you want to be financialy independent.

You mentioned that you did bachelor's in the medical field which intself is rewarding in terms of knowledge. However, it is crucial to apply your gained wisdom in the practical to gain experience and confidence. At the same time, it would strain your doubt that you want to rmain in this science world or want to carry on your music passion.

From my scutinization, I believe that working as a nurse in the hospital will be highly appropriate for you. Apart from this, you can try your luck by applying in the long-term nursing homes where your role will be same.

I hope you are in co-relation with me but at last I would say follow your own voice.

Regards,

Jasleen Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You give a clear recommendation to seek work rather than continue studying, and you suggest relevant options: nursing in a hospital or a long-term care home. You also explain that practical work could build experience and confidence, and that it may help your friend decide whether to continue in science or pursue music. However, the reason your friend would not enjoy college is only indirectly addressed; the letter does not clearly explain what aspects of college would be unsuitable or unenjoyable for them. The benefits of employment are also somewhat general, and the job suggestions would be stronger with details linked to your friend’s interests or abilities. Develop these points more fully and keep the advice consistently focused on the three requested prompts.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a recognisable structure: an opening and recommendation, a paragraph about practical experience, and a paragraph suggesting suitable work, followed by a closing. This makes the main ideas reasonably easy to follow. Linking phrases such as “However,” “At the same time,” and “Apart from this” help connect points, although some transitions feel mechanical or do not express the relationship precisely. For example, the move from gaining experience to deciding about a music passion could be explained more clearly. Some references are also difficult to follow, particularly “That's what, you stated in the letter.” Use clearer links between each task point and make pronouns and references explicit so the reader can follow the reasoning without rereading.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of vocabulary, including “financially independent,” “practical,” “experience,” and “appropriate,” and the overall message remains understandable. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, which limits precision: “recommend you that opt,” “strain your doubt,” “from my scrutinization,” and “in co-relation with me” do not express the intended meanings naturally. There are also spelling errors, such as “financialy,” “intself,” and “scutinization.” Prefer familiar, accurate expressions over unusually formal wording, and check spelling carefully. For instance, “I recommend that you get a job” and “help you decide” would communicate your advice more clearly and naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple and more developed sentence forms, including the relative clause in “which started sprouting once we got a minimum qualification” and the sentence beginning “However, it is crucial to apply…”. The overall meaning is generally recoverable, but some grammatical errors affect clarity. Examples include “recommend you that opt” (the clause pattern is incorrect), “a urge” (article agreement), and “you did bachelor's” (the verb form is unsuitable here). In “apply your gained wisdom in the practical,” the grammatical construction is also unclear. Aim to build accurate patterns with verbs such as “recommend that you…” and “you completed a bachelor’s degree,” and review articles and sentence structure. More reliable control of these forms would make your advice easier to read.

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

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