Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-04
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 5.0)
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to cancel my part-time course that I have enrolled in due to certain circumstances.
As I am pursuing a Physiotherapy degree, I have booked a Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapy course for specialisation in orthopedic conditons. This course will help to be expert in diagnosis and treatment of different conditions. This course is for 3 months online course with 5 days a week for 2 hours daily.
Unfortunately, I am working on a college research project recently.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is only 83 words long. Consequently, the task is significantly under-developed. While the letter identifies the course and provides a reason for cancellation, it fails to address the final bullet point regarding booking a different course. The content is incomplete, and the lack of development prevents the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, you must ensure all three bullet points are addressed in detail and that you meet the minimum length requirement to allow for full development of your ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The letter is very brief, making it difficult to assess the overall flow and paragraphing. The opening is standard, but the lack of a concluding paragraph or a proper sign-off (e.g., 'Yours faithfully') affects the structure of a formal letter. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas together, resulting in a disjointed feel. To improve, ensure you use linking words like 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'however' to connect your sentences and ensure you follow the standard structure of a formal letter, including a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is generally appropriate for the context, such as 'enrolled,' 'specialisation,' and 'diagnosis.' However, the range is limited due to the brevity of the text. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'help to be expert' which should be 'help me to become an expert.' The vocabulary is sufficient for the basic communication of the message but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. Expanding your writing will naturally allow you to demonstrate a wider range of vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'I am working on a college research project recently,' where the present continuous is used incorrectly with 'recently' (should be present perfect continuous). Additionally, 'This course is for 3 months online course' is redundant and grammatically awkward. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of errors in such a short text suggests a need for more careful proofreading and a better grasp of tense usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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