Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-09
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
You have seen an advertisement in an Australian magazine for someone to live with a family for six months and look after their six-year-old child.
Write a letter to the parents. In your letter
- explain why you would like the job
- give details of why you would be a suitable person to employ
- say how you would spend your free time while you are in Australia
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,
Student answer (Band 5.5)
Dear Sir
I came across the job posting that you posted in Australian magazine regarding taking care of your six year old child. I am really interested in this position cause I recently complete my early childhood take care diploma from a college and I have an excellent experience with children and I really love kids.
Even though I like this position cause there I have to take care of only single child so its gonna easy for me on the other side I will got an accommodation for six months.
I am gonna disclose some of my personal life with you cause that's make you more comfortable to trust me or may be get to know me I really love music and I am fan of nursery rhymes. In addition, reading books is the second most thing which initiate my confidence.
I really appreciate if I was selected and feel free to reach me out if you have concerns.
Thankful
Niyamatpreet Singh
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The letter addresses all three bullet points of the prompt: explaining the interest in the job, detailing suitability, and describing free-time activities. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited. For instance, the explanation of free-time activities is vague, focusing on personal hobbies like music rather than how you would spend your time in Australia. The tone is also inconsistent; while it is a formal letter, the language used is overly casual (e.g., 'gonna', 'cause', 'reach me out'). To improve, ensure that each point is expanded with more relevant detail and maintain a consistently professional tone throughout the correspondence.
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 quite basic and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'Even though' and 'In addition' are used, but the logical flow between sentences is often disjointed. The transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs feels abrupt. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus that connects logically to the next.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. There is a reliance on informal, conversational language such as 'gonna' and 'cause', which is inappropriate for a formal application letter. Some word choices are also slightly unnatural, such as 'initiate my confidence' or 'early childhood take care diploma'. To improve, you should aim to use more formal, academic, or professional vocabulary and avoid colloquialisms. Expanding your range of collocations related to childcare and professional experience would also be beneficial.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with verb tense ('I recently complete'), article usage, and sentence structure. The use of 'gonna' is a significant error in a formal context. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of control over complex structures and the presence of basic errors in subject-verb agreement and punctuation (e.g., missing commas) hinder the overall quality. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring consistent verb tenses, and avoiding informal contractions in formal writing tasks.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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