Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-11-01
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 Ali, How are you. I hope are good at health. I just recieved your letter yesturday, in which you asked for advice about continue study in college or work. I kown that you are good at yuor studies since chilhdoos, also know your family status. I think your family income is not enough to support your educationa expences. Now you feel burden on them and want to do some kind work. I do not think it a good idea to leave the study, because it necessary for everyone to be graduate with degree to be competitive in job market. One option that could be practical is part time job, inthis way you will meet the expenditures of your education and reduce the financial crisis. In my opinion you can get part time job as waiter in a knowned hotel in night and will be able to study in morning. I hope you will consider my suggestion positively and take action according to your situations. Hoping for best. Best wishes, Javed.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 3.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0
The letter responds to the situation and gives a clear recommendation to work, but it does not fulfil the task’s central requirements consistently. The prompt asks you to explain why Ali would not enjoy college; instead, you argue that he should not leave his studies, saying a degree is necessary. You do mention financial pressure and suggest a part-time waiter job, but this supports combining work with college rather than advising him to get a job instead. The job suggestion is also brief and not clearly linked to Ali’s interests or abilities. To improve, state directly why college would not suit him, explain the benefits of employment, and recommend suitable roles with reasons.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The letter has a recognisable sequence: greeting and context, discussion of Ali’s circumstances, advice, and a closing. Paragraph breaks help separate these stages, and phrases such as “One option” and “In my opinion” signal the next point. However, the progression is weakened by a contradiction: you first say Ali should not leave his studies, then recommend a part-time job that allows him to continue studying, although the task asks you to advise him to get a job. Some links are also awkward or unclear, including “also know your family status” and “in this way.” Make the recommendation consistent and connect each reason explicitly to it.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use enough everyday vocabulary to communicate the general situation, including “family income,” “financial crisis,” “part time job,” and “expenditures.” However, the range is limited and several spelling, word-form, and collocation errors make the letter less natural: “recieved,” “yesturday,” “educationa expences,” “knowned hotel,” and “take action according to your situations.” Some expressions are also imprecise, such as “good at health” and “some kind work.” Check spelling carefully and choose more natural phrases, for example “in good health,” “a suitable job,” and “a reputable hotel.” More precise vocabulary for employment benefits and job types would also strengthen the advice.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response includes some attempts at longer sentences, such as “One option that could be practical is part time job, inthis way you will meet the expenditures of your education,” but sentence control is uneven. Errors in verb forms, articles, and sentence construction occur in examples such as “I hope are good at health,” “I just recieved your letter,” and “I do not think it a good idea.” The opening also uses a question mark after “How are you” where a full stop is needed, and several clauses are joined without suitable punctuation. Practise accurate basic sentence patterns first, then use complex sentences with clear clause boundaries. For instance: “I hope you are well” and “I do not think it is a good idea to leave your studies.”
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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