Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-29

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 Tarun,

I hope you are doing well!

I am writing this letter to inform you that I recieved your letter and I read all the statement which you mentioned in that letter. So my opinion will be to join job, because now a days good firms always want skills people who have good experience in particular fields. If you join a job that will be awesome for you carrer growth.

If you join the college you will feel alone because you are already 30 years old , so you will get the same thing which you have done before when you were in college doing bachelors. Jobs will help in making your carrer growth as well building confidence. As everybody knows self-confidence is an inner quality which makes everyone strong and self-determinent.

You will be surprised by knowing that I have many friends in different sectors of job so I will ask them for your support and I must suggest you to join construction company which comes with your core study.

Be safe and take care of your self.

Warm regards.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You give a clear recommendation to get a job and address all three requested points. You explain that college may feel isolating at age 30 and repeat material already covered in a bachelor’s degree; you also connect employment with career growth and confidence. The suggestion of a construction company is relevant because it relates to your friend’s studies, and offering to ask friends in different sectors adds a personal touch. However, the reasons are not equally developed: the explanation of why college would be unenjoyable is brief, and the job benefits remain quite general. Add a specific example of the kind of work or workplace that would suit your friend, and explain more clearly why it matches their interests or strengths.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter follows a generally understandable order: you acknowledge your friend’s message, give your recommendation, compare college with work, and close warmly. Paragraphing helps separate the main ideas, and phrases such as “If you join a job” and “As everybody knows” signal connections. However, some links feel mechanical or unclear, and the second paragraph combines several points without a smooth progression. The opening sentence is also long and repeats the idea of the letter. Organise the body around the three requested points, using clearer transitions between them, and make references such as “the same thing” more explicit. A conventional sign-off followed by your name would also make the letter feel more complete.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a range of relevant vocabulary, including “career growth,” “self-confidence,” “construction company,” and “core study,” so the reader can understand your main advice. There are also attempts to use less common expressions, such as “self-determinent,” although this is not the correct form. Several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, including “skills people,” “join a job,” and “comes with your core study.” Spelling errors such as “recieved” and “carrer” also reduce accuracy. Aim for natural combinations such as “skilled employees,” “take a job,” and “a role related to your field of study.” More precise vocabulary for suitable job types would strengthen the advice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple sentences and longer structures, including conditional forms such as “If you join the college, you will feel alone” and a relative clause in “a quality which makes everyone strong.” The overall meaning remains clear, but some grammatical errors occur. For example, “I read all the statement” needs plural agreement or an article, and “Jobs will help in making your career growth” has an awkward grammatical pattern. The sentence beginning “I am writing this letter to inform you” is also overloaded with clauses. Use a wider range of sentence patterns while checking articles, plurals, and clause structure. Breaking long sentences into shorter units will help you express each point more accurately.

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

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