Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-13

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You work for an international company. You have seen an advertisement for a training course which will be useful for your job.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter

• describe the training course you want to do
• explain what the company could do to help you
• say how the course will be useful for your job

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear sir/ma,

I am writing this letter to express my interest in the advertisement for a training course published in the Punch Magazine on Tuesday, which will be very helpful for my profession.

To begin with, it is marketing training course I am interested in. I have done some trainings in the past, but they have not helped my job in any way.

In all honesty, I want the organization to assist me in overcoming my shyness. Because whenever I go out with my fellow colleagues for marketing, I do find it challenging to approach customers personally.

The reason why I need this training it is because the Biannual promotion is far approaching which I believe if I can improve on the timidity, I might qualify.

Thanks, as I look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,

Ola.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses all three bullet points, but the development is insufficient. While you mention the course and the need for help, the description of the course is vague, and the explanation of how the company can help is limited to a general request to 'assist'. Furthermore, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which significantly impacts the development of your ideas. To improve, you should provide more specific details about the course content, duration, and cost, and elaborate on the specific support you require from your manager, such as time off or financial sponsorship.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a basic logical structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as 'To begin with' and 'In all honesty'. The paragraphing is present, but the transitions between ideas are abrupt. For instance, the jump from discussing the course to your personal shyness lacks a smooth connection. To achieve a higher band, focus on using a wider range of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph flows naturally into the next.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. You use some repetitive phrasing, such as 'training course' and 'help'. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'timidity' which is not the most natural fit for a professional context regarding sales performance. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to professional development and business communication, and avoid repeating the same words in close proximity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow, such as 'it is marketing training course' (missing article) and 'the Biannual promotion is far approaching' (awkward phrasing). There are also punctuation issues, such as the informal 'Dear sir/ma' instead of the requested 'Dear Sir or Madam'. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed accurately.

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

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