Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-05

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 Mr. Smith,

I am writing to express my appreciation for the "You Can Cook" cookery course I recently completed at your school.I found it was an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Firstly, the course was well designed, and each module was structured according to students' requirements. The expert professors were able to deliver knowledge smoothly and simply. Moreover, they allowed the students to practice each recipe by themselves. I appreciate the positive learning that the course offered and encourage creativity.

Admittedly, after finishing this course, I have started cooking homemade food regularly. Now, my family no more rely on store-bought food. I feel confident when experimenting with new recipes. With the learned culinary skills I can use species , alter ingredients and cook healthy cuisines.

Although, this school has o

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is only 130 words long and remains unfinished. While you have addressed the first two bullet points—describing what you enjoyed and your subsequent cooking habits—the third bullet point regarding a suggestion for a new course is completely missing due to the incomplete nature of the letter. To improve, ensure you fully develop all three required points and monitor your word count to ensure the task is completed in full. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter, but the lack of completion significantly impacts the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter uses basic paragraphing and some cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', and 'Admittedly' to link ideas. However, the progression is interrupted by the abrupt ending of the text. The logical flow is generally clear in the sections that are present, but the lack of a concluding paragraph and the unfinished final sentence prevent the letter from being fully coherent. To improve, ensure you include a proper closing and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly throughout the entire response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'rewarding experience', 'culinary skills', and 'experimenting'. However, there are some inaccuracies, such as the misuse of 'species' (which refers to biological classification) instead of 'spices'. Additionally, 'my family no more rely on' is slightly unnatural; 'no longer' would be more appropriate. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and ensure that your word choices are contextually accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'Although, this school has o' (incomplete sentence) and 'my family no more rely on' (incorrect verb placement). The use of 'Although' at the start of the final sentence is also grammatically incorrect in this context, as it is not followed by a clause. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall accuracy. Focus on subject-verb agreement and proper sentence completion.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.