Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-13

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You recently booked a part-time course at a college. You now need to cancel your booking.

Write a letter to the college administrator. In your letter:

• say which part-time course you booked
• explain why you need to cancel your booking
• ask about booking a different course

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 6.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to inform you about course which I booked recently and I wanted to cancel the booking.

I booked science research part-time course where I was thinking to gain knowledge and develop skills for future career. This course has a two semester and six month course, which mainly focuses on research area.

Unfortunately, I had a family emergency which why I cannot join this course. My grandmother passed away yesterday and I flew to New York. However, I cannot join this week as I have to finish some work here.

I would like to ask you if you can book any research related course in following month. As I wanted to learn more about science research. Could you please send me other courses related to this subjects.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Jinal Prajapati.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address all three required points: you identify the science research course, explain that a family emergency and your grandmother’s death prevent attendance, and ask about a different research-related course next month. The reason for cancelling is clear and relevant, and the letter uses an appropriate formal opening and closing. Some details are less fully developed: the description of the course (“two semester and six month course”) is unclear and not essential, while your request could specify whether you want information about available courses or to transfer your booking. The response is also three words below the required minimum, so add a little relevant detail, such as your preferred start date or a request about any cancellation procedure.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall arrangement, with separate paragraphs for the booked course, the reason for cancelling, and your request about another course. This makes the purpose easy to follow, and the closing is appropriate. Some links between ideas are less smooth or slightly mechanical. For example, “However” does not clearly contrast with the preceding sentence about your grandmother, and “As I wanted to learn more about science research” is a fragment that interrupts the request. The repeated references to research also make the final paragraph feel less developed. To strengthen progression, connect the reason and request directly, and combine the final two sentences into one complete, clearly linked request.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a formal cancellation letter, including “family emergency,” “develop skills,” and “research related course.” These choices communicate the main points, and the reader can understand your purpose. Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise, such as “inform you about course,” “gain knowledge,” and “book any research related course.” “This subjects” is also an incorrect form. The description “two semester and six month course” is difficult to interpret, which reduces precision. Aim for natural phrases used in administrative correspondence, and choose wording that makes clear whether you are asking to transfer your booking or simply receive information about other courses.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the relative clause in “course where I was thinking to gain knowledge” and the reason clause beginning “as I have to finish some work here.” The main message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors affect accuracy. Examples include the missing article in “about course,” the agreement and number problems in “a two semester,” and the incomplete construction “which why I cannot join.” “As I wanted to learn more about science research” is a sentence fragment, while “I wanted to cancel” shifts awkwardly from the present purpose of the letter. Practise complete clause structures, articles, and singular/plural agreement, then check that each sentence has a clear subject and finite verb.

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

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