Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-21

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,

I am writing to provide some feedback on the cookery course I recently attended. I particularly enjoyed the practical session because the instrutor was patient and explained each recipe clearly.

Since completing the course, I have been cooking several times a week. I have prepared pasta, cusine, curries and diffrent types of breads for my family.

I would like to suggest that the school offer a course on international cuisine. This would allow students to learn how to prepare dishes from different cultures.

Thank you for providing such an enjoyable course. I hope you will consider my suggestion.

Yours faithfully,

Vishal Bajaj

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses all three bullet points: describing what was enjoyed, stating the frequency of cooking since the course, and suggesting a new course. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely limits the development of ideas. The points are covered in a very brief, superficial manner. To achieve a higher band, you must expand on your ideas—for example, by describing specific techniques you learned or explaining why you are interested in international cuisine. Because the length requirement was not met, the task is only partially addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each point, and a closing. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different requirements of the task. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited, making the flow feel somewhat mechanical. The transition between sentences is functional but lacks variety. To improve, try using a wider range of linking words and phrases to connect your ideas more fluidly, such as 'Furthermore,' 'Consequently,' or 'In addition to this.'

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks range and precision. There are some spelling errors, such as 'instrutor' (instructor), 'cusine' (cuisine), and 'diffrent' (different). While these do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading. The range of vocabulary is quite basic; to improve, you should aim to incorporate more specific terminology related to cooking and education. For instance, instead of 'cooking several times a week,' you could use 'practicing my culinary skills on a regular basis.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses simple sentence structures correctly for the most part. There is an attempt at a complex sentence in the first paragraph ('because the instructor was...'), but the overall range of grammatical structures is limited. Punctuation is generally accurate, and the tone is appropriate for a formal letter. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence forms, such as conditional sentences or relative clauses, and ensure that your spelling is accurate throughout the text.

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

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