Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-28

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 or Madam,

I am writing this letter to inform you about a Data Analysis training course that I am interested in. I have seen an advertisement a few weeks ago and I would like to complete the training course.

The training course has some useful topics which relates to my work areas. It provides some opportunites to understand the programming and data visualizations better including C programming and Python.

I would like to get some financial assitance from the company to complete this courses. Since it will cost me $2,500 USD and I am not able to cover the full amount. So, if the company help me to accquire this course, it would be really a great opportunity as a long-time employee.

As a Data Analyst, I would like to accquire this opportunity to contribute my analyzing skills towards company's success. I believe this course will help me to do boose my analytical skills.

I would like to h

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the main points by identifying a Data Analysis course, requesting financial assistance, and linking it to your role as a Data Analyst. The details about C programming, Python, and the $2,500 cost make the request relevant. However, the course description and its job benefits are only briefly explained: “contribute my analyzing skills towards company's success” does not show clearly what work tasks or outcomes would improve. The letter also ends abruptly with “I would like to h,” so the request is not brought to a proper close. Develop the practical benefits and finish with a clear, polite closing to make the response more complete and persuasive.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic, sensible sequence: it introduces the course, describes its content, asks for support, and explains a possible benefit. Paragraph breaks help distinguish these points. However, progression is weakened by abrupt or incomplete connections. “Since it will cost me $2,500 USD and I am not able to cover the full amount. So…” is not smoothly joined, and the final fragment, “I would like to h,” interrupts the letter. Some links between ideas are also repetitive, particularly the repeated use of “I would like.” Use complete transitions between the cost and request, vary how you introduce points, and end with a complete closing sentence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “Data Analysis,” “programming,” “data visualizations,” and “analytical skills,” so the reader can understand the general purpose of the letter. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate, such as “opportunites,” “assitance,” “accquire,” and “boose.” Phrases such as “my work areas” and “contribute my analyzing skills” are also unnatural, which makes the request less precise. Aim for accurate, natural collocations—for example, “areas of my work,” “financial support,” and “apply my analytical skills”—and proofread spelling carefully. More precise vocabulary would help explain the course’s relevance and your expected contribution.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including “Since it will cost me $2,500 USD and I am not able to cover the full amount.” However, this is a dependent clause presented as a sentence, and the following “So” creates a fragment-like connection. There are also errors in agreement and tense: “topics which relates” should use a plural verb, while “I have seen an advertisement a few weeks ago” would normally use the past simple with a finished time reference. “If the company help me” also needs a correctly formed conditional clause. These issues sometimes make the relationships between ideas less clear. Practise joining clauses accurately and checking subject–verb agreement and tense choices.

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