Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-22

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

During a recent plane journey, you sat next to a businessman who owns a chain of restaurants. You talked to him and he suggested that you should contact him about a possible job in one of his restaurants.

Write a letter to this businessman. In your letter

• remind him when and where you met
• tell him what kind of job you are interested in
• say why you think you would be suitable for the job

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. ,

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear sir,

i am writing this letter to inform you about a job which is available in your restaurant.

Firstly, last week you met me at a grocery store. when somebody snatching your purse in which had some cash as well cards however i caught that person and return your purse back. That time, you told me you have a some position opened for a cook. Secondly, i am interested in this position because i have a keen to make a different kinds of food. When, i free at home during that time i watch a cookery show as well tried to make a same thing at home for my parents. Thirdly, my parents motivated me to due to my cooking skills as well timing management. Therefore, these things boost my confidence for cooking and i think this is a suitable position for me.

I am looking forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.

Your sincerely,

Simranjeet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter covers all three bullet points: it mentions the meeting, the desired job, and reasons for suitability. However, the content is slightly confused; you mention meeting on a plane in the prompt instructions, but your letter states you met at a grocery store during a robbery. This inconsistency makes the narrative difficult to follow. Additionally, the tone is somewhat informal for a business letter. To improve, ensure your details align with the prompt and maintain a professional, polite tone throughout. The ideas are relevant, but the development is limited by the confusion regarding the setting of the meeting.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organised into paragraphs, which is good. You use basic cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Thirdly' to structure your points. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the logical progression is hindered by the factual inconsistencies mentioned in the task achievement section. The use of referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'When, i free at home during that time i watch a cookery show'. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one will help improve the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is quite basic and repetitive. There are several errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'i have a keen to make' instead of 'I am keen to make' or 'I have a passion for'. Phrases like 'some position opened' and 'timing management' (instead of 'time management') show a lack of precision. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more natural collocations and a wider range of vocabulary related to professional settings and cooking skills.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter, including issues with verb tenses ('when somebody snatching', 'I watch a cookery show... as well tried'), article usage, and sentence structure. Many sentences are simple, and attempts at more complex structures often result in errors that can impede the reader's understanding. For example, 'my parents motivated me to due to my cooking skills' is grammatically incorrect. Focusing on basic sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and correct tense usage will significantly improve your writing.

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

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