Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-07

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 have been very happy since i completed the cookery course. I thoroughly enjoyed my time while learning as well. The course is well designed, keeping in mind the individuals with no cooking experience at all, and set at a relatively good pace so nothing gets skip. I was very nervous at first, as i had never done any cooking prior to the course.

Furthermore i do not have to give my son money and ask him to buy something from school canteen because now i can make him healthy food everyday. My wife is very happy and she loves the meals i make. Moreover, i would love to learn baking, it would be very great if you offer a baking course as well, i will definitely be interested in joining.

your sincerely

Akashdeep Singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: describing enjoyment, mentioning cooking frequency, and suggesting a new course. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. The explanation of cooking frequency is somewhat anecdotal and lacks depth, and the suggestion for a baking course is brief. To improve, you should expand on your experiences and provide more detail regarding how the course has specifically changed your daily routine or skills. Because the response is under-length, it fails to fully develop the required points, limiting the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organised into two short paragraphs, but the structure is quite basic. While there is a logical flow, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes repetitive (e.g., 'Furthermore', 'Moreover'). Paragraphing is present, but the transition between the initial feedback and the suggestion for a new course is abrupt. To reach a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph focuses on a single, well-developed theme. The closing is also slightly disconnected from the main body of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on simple, repetitive phrasing such as 'very happy', 'very nervous', and 'very great'. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic language. While the meaning is clear throughout, the lack of variety in word choice makes the writing feel somewhat simplistic. To improve, try to incorporate more descriptive adjectives and precise verbs that reflect a more formal or semi-formal tone appropriate for a letter to a course director.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are several grammatical errors that detract from the overall quality. You have issues with subject-verb agreement and tense consistency, such as 'nothing gets skip' (should be 'skipped') and 'i' (should be capitalized 'I'). Additionally, there are punctuation errors, such as the comma splice in 'Moreover, i would love to learn baking, it would be very great'. The sentence structures are mostly simple or compound; there is a lack of complex sentence structures. Improving your control over basic grammar and increasing the variety of sentence types will help you achieve a higher score.

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

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