Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-12
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
A friend you made while you were studying abroad has written to ask you for help in finding a job in your country. You have heard about a job in a local company that might be suitable for him/her.
Write a letter to this friend. In your letter
- tell your friend about the job and what sort of work it involves
- say why you think the job would be suitable for him/her
- explain how to apply for the job
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ................. ,
Student answer (Band 5.5)
Dear, Vidhi
I am writing this letter to inform you that i have found one job opportunity in India which you was looking for. I think it is good place to start.
I knew you wanted job in QA department . This job posting is about this. Moreover, this position are mainly available for the new graduate. There is no experiences needed for that. It involves working in the labs which you wanted to do.
I think this job is best for you as the location of the job is near to the your house so the transportation would not be issue. They are paying a good pay. I think it is beneficial.
To apply for this job you can search online on their website all the information are available there. It show the steps how to apply for this job ? the qualifications for it. What expectation they do have ? . I will come to meet you soon till than take care of yourself.
your bestie
Deval
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The letter covers all three bullet points: it describes the job, explains why it is suitable, and provides instructions on how to apply. However, the development of these points is somewhat limited. For instance, the explanation of the job duties is quite brief, and the application process is described in a very general way. While the tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, the content lacks the depth required for a higher band score. The response is functional and addresses the prompt, but it does not fully extend the ideas to provide a comprehensive or engaging response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The letter is organised into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For example, the frequent use of 'I think' and 'This job' at the start of sentences makes the flow feel a bit disjointed. There is a lack of variety in linking words, which prevents the writing from feeling truly fluent. While the progression of ideas is logical, the transitions between sentences could be smoother to improve the overall readability of the letter.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, which limits the effectiveness of the communication. Phrases like 'good place to start', 'good pay', and 'beneficial' are quite simple. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'found one job opportunity' instead of 'found a job opportunity'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the message clearly, it lacks the range and precision needed for a higher band. To improve, you should aim to incorporate more descriptive adjectives and varied professional terminology related to the job market.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('this position are', 'all the information are') and tense inconsistencies ('you was looking for'). Punctuation is also problematic, particularly the misuse of question marks in statements ('It show the steps how to apply for this job ?'). While the meaning remains clear, these errors are noticeable and occur across a range of sentence structures. The writing relies heavily on simple sentences, and attempts at more complex structures often result in errors, which limits the score for this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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