Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-17

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 or Madam,

I am writing you to express my interest in the job you have advertised in the Australian magazine. As I jsut completed my tertiary education, I am actively and urgently looking for a job position in my field, which can help me to build a successful career and future.

I read the adverstisement, and I feel that I meet all the requirements and qualifications, making me as a perfect candidate for this position. Since I have just graduated in Early Child Care program, I have deep knowledge about how to take care and look after children. Not only basis of my education, but I also think my internship, which I performed after my graduation will help me significantly to perform this job at best level. Furthermore, I can also sign the contract of six months as I do not have any future plans within this time period.

During my free time, I often go out and play with children. which gives me pleasure. Ifyou allow me, I would love to get your children with me to play in park. Therefore, I believe I will be best candidate for this role.

Should you have any question, please fr

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address the main purpose by expressing interest, describing your Early Child Care studies and internship, and mentioning a six-month commitment. However, the reasons for wanting this particular job are only partly developed: the focus on building your career is general, and you do not explain why living with this family or caring for their child appeals to you. Your suitability is relevant but relies on broad claims such as “deep knowledge” rather than a specific example of caring for children. The free-time point is also unclear and does not explain how you would spend time in Australia beyond playing with children. Complete the letter’s closing and develop each point with concrete details to make the response more fully address the task.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter has a recognisable structure, with paragraphs for your interest, qualifications and free-time plans, and linking expressions such as “Furthermore” and “Therefore” help show connections. The overall progression is understandable, but some links are awkward or unclear. For example, “During my free time, I often go out and play with children. which gives me pleasure” breaks a sentence across a full stop, while “Therefore” does not clearly follow from the preceding idea. The final paragraph also shifts from your free time back to your suitability. Keep each paragraph focused on one task point, use pronouns with clear references, and finish with a complete closing so the letter feels more logically complete.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for the situation, including “tertiary education,” “internship,” “requirements and qualifications,” and “contract of six months.” However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling, word-form or collocation errors make the letter less natural, such as “jsut,” “adverstisement,” “basis of my education,” and “perform this job at best level.” “Job position” is also redundant, and “get your children with me” does not express your intended meaning clearly. These choices may cause some difficulty for the reader, even though the main message can generally be understood. Aim for precise, natural phrases and proofread spelling and word forms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex structures, including “Since I have just graduated…” and “Not only…, but I also…”. The meaning is usually recoverable, but several sentence-structure and punctuation problems reduce accuracy. In “During my free time, I often go out and play with children. which gives me pleasure,” the relative clause is incorrectly separated from the sentence. “making me as a perfect candidate” is not correctly formed, and “Should you have any question” needs a plural noun. The response also ends with an incomplete sentence, “please fr…”. Practise checking clause boundaries, articles and plurals, and ensure every sentence and the letter ending are complete.

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

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