Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-08
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 Madam,
I am writing this letter to share my response about cookery course. I want to share my experience about what i learn and i also want to share my feedback. I really enjoyed this course a lot because i am food lover.
Before this course i have not enough time to learn about cooking , but after i joined this course , i tried so many diffrent dishes, which i love . my mother force me to learn the this skill but due to my study i was not able to learn.next year i will go canada for my further study . so it is vital.
Finally ,I would like the school to offer a baking course. I think it would be interesting because I could learn how to make cakes, cookies, and different types of bread.
Thank you so much your time the help.
Kind regards,
Gagandeep.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all three bullet points of the prompt: describing enjoyment, mentioning cooking frequency since the course, and suggesting a new course. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited. For instance, the explanation of why you enjoyed the course is brief, and the section regarding how much you have cooked since the course is somewhat vague and lacks detail. To achieve a higher band, you should expand on your ideas with more specific examples or descriptive language. While the tone is appropriate for a letter to a director, the overall development of the content is basic and lacks the depth required for a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The letter is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is very limited and sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition between the second and third paragraphs is abrupt. There is a lack of variety in linking words, and some sentences feel disjointed. To improve, you should use a wider range of cohesive devices (such as 'furthermore', 'consequently', or 'in addition') to connect your ideas more fluidly. Additionally, ensure that your paragraphing is consistent and that each paragraph focuses on a single, well-developed idea.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but remains quite simple and repetitive. You rely on basic words like 'share', 'learn', and 'enjoyed'. There are also some minor errors in word choice and phrasing, such as 'I am food lover' (missing article) and 'my mother force me' (incorrect tense). To improve, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to cooking and personal development. Using a wider range of adjectives and more sophisticated collocations would help demonstrate a better command of the language and move your score into a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Common issues include missing articles ('go canada'), subject-verb agreement errors ('my mother force me'), and punctuation mistakes, such as the inconsistent spacing around commas. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors are noticeable and occur frequently. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, including correct verb tenses and the proper use of articles. Proofreading your work for small slips in grammar and punctuation will significantly enhance the clarity and professionalism of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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