Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-30

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 Seyi,

I am writing this letter to ask for your advice whether to go for a college or try a job.

Getting a job is a very good idea because it will help you to get thing you need in going to the college,pay off your school fees apartment fee and to get some text book you need for the college.

You getting a job is another kind of helping hand for you to save some money that will help you to finish up your session in college ,it will also help you save up some money when you get enough you can also go to college.

The types of job that will be suitable for you are : Learning how is use the computer

is very important because you will make use of computer for class project ,or assigment

office work ,depending the money paid will also help you to get laptop or other thing you may need .

so going to get a job will help you financially in your needs .

Yours faithfully,

Blessing.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

You give a clear recommendation to get a job and explain that it could help Seyi save money for college expenses. You also attempt to suggest suitable work involving computers and office tasks. However, the task asks why your friend would not enjoy college, and this point is not addressed; instead, you mainly explain how a job could fund later study. The job suggestions are also unclear: “Learning how is use the computer” describes learning a skill rather than a specific job, and the office-work idea needs a clearer explanation of why it suits Seyi. To strengthen the response, address all three bullet points directly and develop each with a relevant reason or example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The letter has a recognisable opening, body and closing, and the ideas generally move from the benefits of earning money to possible work. The repeated focus on saving for college gives the response some unity. However, the progression is limited because the first two body sections repeat similar financial benefits, while the reason Seyi might dislike college is absent. The job suggestions are difficult to follow, particularly where the computer idea runs into “office work” without a clear transition. Use separate paragraphs for the college concern, the advantages of employment, and suitable jobs. Clear links such as “Another reason” or “For example” would help show how each point relates to the advice.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “school fees,” “save some money,” “class project” and “office work,” so the reader can understand the general financial advice. However, the range is narrow and several expressions are imprecise or awkward, such as “get thing you need,” “another kind of helping hand,” and “Learning how is use the computer.” Spelling errors such as “assigment” also reduce accuracy. Aim for more precise phrases for employment and study costs, and name actual roles rather than skills—for example, a computer-related job or an administrative position. This would make your advice clearer and more natural while retaining the friendly tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including a sentence explaining that work could help Seyi save money and later attend college. The main message is usually understandable, but control becomes weaker in longer constructions. For example, “You getting a job is another kind of helping hand for you to save some money that will help you to finish up your session in college” has an unclear subject and awkward clause structure. There are also errors in articles, plurals and sentence boundaries, as in “a college,” “get thing,” and the run-on sequence beginning “when you get enough.” Practise building shorter, complete sentences first, then connect them with accurate clauses and punctuation.

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

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