Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-04

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You recently did a short cookery course. The cookery school has asked for your feedback on this course. Write a letter to the course director at the cookery school. In your letter

• describe what you enjoyed about the course
• say how much cooking you've done since the course
• suggest another cookery course you’d like the school to offer

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 provide my feedback about a cookery course I recently attended in your school. I had a very good experience and enjoyed the course.

I enjoyed the way difficult recipes were taught in a very easy way.

I liked the variety of dishes covered the course like continental, Chinese, Italian etc.

After the course, my interest in cooking has increased. Now, I have started cooking new dishes for my family. I made white sauce pasta for first time and it turned out delicious. My family loved it . I tried 10 more dishes since I completed the course. I also made vegetable hakka noodles they also turned out quit good.

I would suggest to add bakery course in the school. As I am interested in baking . I would like to learn how to make cake, cookies, browines etc. So that i can bake for my kids

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: describing the enjoyable aspects of the course, detailing cooking frequency since completion, and suggesting a new course. However, the development of these points is somewhat basic. For instance, while you mention enjoying the 'easy way' recipes were taught, providing a specific example of a technique or instructor style would have strengthened the response. The suggestion for a bakery course is clear, but could be expanded by explaining why you believe it would be a popular addition to the school's curriculum. Overall, the tone is appropriate for a formal letter, and all requirements of the prompt are met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited. You rely heavily on simple sentence structures and lack transition words or phrases to connect your ideas more fluidly (e.g., using 'Furthermore' or 'Consequently'). The paragraphing is functional, but the flow between sentences within paragraphs feels a bit mechanical. To improve, try to use a wider range of linking words to show the relationship between your experiences and your suggestions, which would create a more cohesive and professional-sounding letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your experiences clearly. You use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'recipes', 'continental', and 'bakery'. However, there are some minor errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'quit good' instead of 'quite good' and 'browines' instead of 'brownies'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat repetitive; for example, you use the word 'course' and 'cooking' frequently. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more varied descriptive adjectives and precise verbs to express your enthusiasm and specific feedback more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('for first time'), punctuation issues (spaces before periods), and minor tense inconsistencies. The sentence structure is often repetitive, starting many sentences with 'I'. To improve, focus on varying your sentence beginnings and ensuring subject-verb agreement. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing your control over complex sentence structures and proofreading for small slips would significantly enhance your writing.

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

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