Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-11-04

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 5.0)

Dear Sola.

How are you doing hope you are good

I am writing in response to your request why you would not enjoy going to college you are someone that does not like going to college but you prefer working and you are someone that is lively and to be with

Getting a job like office secretary will be very good for you because you are funny ,open and enjoyable to stay with ,you getting a job will really help to settle down and put yourself in other get what you went like laptop,phone( just if the one you are using is not good ).

It will be very good for you to also work to help you feel relax,healthy and

to communicate with people around you,it will also be very good when you work to help you make some savings to prepare you to go to college next term or when ever you are ready.

I hope to look forward to your reponse about all i say to you.

Your faithfully

Angel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear recommendation to work rather than go to college, and you address all three requested points. You suggest that college would not suit your friend because they prefer working and are lively, explain that a job could help them earn money and save for future study, and name office secretary work as a possible option. These are relevant ideas, but the reasons are brief or unclear: for example, it is not fully explained why college would be unenjoyable, and the job suggestions are limited to one specific role. Develop the advice with a clearer link to your friend’s interests and perhaps two or three suitable job types, each with a reason.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The letter follows a broadly sensible order: it responds to the request, gives reasons for working, and ends with a closing. However, the ideas are crowded into long, loosely connected sentences, and there is little paragraphing to show the separate points. The repeated use of “it will be very good” makes the progression feel repetitive, while the shift from buying items such as a laptop to saving for college is not clearly signposted. Use distinct paragraphs for college, the benefits of employment, and suitable jobs. Connect ideas with precise links such as “In addition” or “For example,” and make references like “all I say to you” more specific.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for personal advice, including “office secretary,” “communicate,” and “savings,” so the main message can be understood. However, the range is limited and several phrases are awkward or imprecise, such as “lively and to be with,” “enjoyable to stay with,” and “help you feel relax.” Repetition of “very good” also limits the letter’s expression. Choose natural phrases that describe personality and work benefits more precisely, and use vocabulary for a wider range of suitable jobs. Check spelling and word forms as well: “reponse” and “relax” in this context weaken the accuracy and polish of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts to combine ideas using clauses, for example in “because you are funny, open and enjoyable to stay with,” but sentence structures are mostly simple or run together, and errors are frequent enough to make some parts difficult to follow. The opening, “How are you doing hope you are good,” needs a clear separation or a linking word. There are also problems with sentence boundaries and clause structure in “I am writing in response to your request why you would not enjoy going to college.” Punctuation is inconsistent, and the closing phrase “Your faithfully” is not grammatically formed. Practise writing shorter, complete sentences first, then add subordinate clauses with accurate punctuation.

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

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