Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-24
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 Mr. Andrew,
I am writing in context of a training course which is very useful in my current job since I am a sales executive , this 3 months course of management will help me to get managerial accrediation , and I can work as an assistant manager in our international company.
I need your help and assistance in pursuing this course . The course requires 3 reference letters from my workplace including one of director , which is yours and will be very helpful for me.
After pursuing the course , I can work as assistant manager, since we are already short of this skill set and moreover the training given by them is of good quality and will improve my competence to work with you.
I am waiting for positive response from your side.
Yours obediently
Harman kaur.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The letter addresses all three bullet points: describing the course, explaining the need for help, and detailing the benefits. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which limits the development of ideas. The description of the course is quite brief, and the explanation of how the company can help is limited to a request for reference letters. To improve, you should expand on the specific content of the training and provide more detail on how the company could support you beyond just references, such as time off or financial assistance. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, though the opening salutation was inconsistent with the provided prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The letter is organized into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite basic and repetitive. For example, you use 'since' and 'and' frequently to connect ideas. The transition between the request for help and the benefits of the course is somewhat abrupt. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and phrases such as 'furthermore', 'consequently', or 'in addition to this' to create a smoother flow between your sentences and paragraphs. The overall progression of ideas is logical, but the lack of sophisticated cohesive devices keeps this at a mid-range band.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You use simple terms like 'very useful' and 'good quality' repeatedly. There are also some minor errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'accrediation' (accreditation) and 'pursuing' (which is slightly misused in this context; 'enrolling in' or 'undertaking' would be more natural). To reach a higher band, aim to incorporate more specific professional terminology related to management training and business contexts. Avoid repeating the same adjectives and try to use more precise collocations to demonstrate a broader range of vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that affect the quality of the writing. For instance, 'I am writing in context of a training course' should be 'I am writing regarding a training course'. There are also issues with article usage ('including one of director') and punctuation. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Proofreading for small errors like missing 'the' or incorrect prepositions will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.