Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Dear Sir,

I hope you are doing well.

I am writing this email to request the cancellation of my Nursing Leadership course at your college. The reason for cancelling this part-time course is my sudden move to a different province, and this course needs in perosn training, which is not possible for me. I would prefer any course that can be delivered online.

I am sorry for any inconvenience it may have caused.

Looking forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Preet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses all three bullet points: identifying the course, explaining the cancellation, and inquiring about an alternative. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely impacts the development of the ideas. The points are mentioned but not expanded upon, leading to a very brief and underdeveloped letter. To improve, you must elaborate on your situation and provide more detail regarding your interest in the alternative course to meet the length requirement and demonstrate a fuller response to the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a logical sequence, moving from the purpose of the email to the reason for cancellation and finally the request for an alternative. Paragraphing is present, though the brevity of the text makes the structure feel somewhat fragmented. Cohesive devices are minimal; the letter relies on simple sentence structures rather than a variety of linking words or transition phrases. To improve, use more sophisticated cohesive devices such as 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in light of this' to connect your ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is functional and appropriate for a formal letter, such as 'request the cancellation' and 'inconvenience.' However, the range is limited, and there is a spelling error ('perosn' instead of 'person'). The language is repetitive, and there is little attempt to use less common or more precise vocabulary. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more varied and precise terminology related to academic or professional correspondence, such as 'enrolment,' 'relocation,' or 'alternative arrangements.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The grammar is generally accurate, and the sentences are easy to understand. However, the range of structures is limited to simple and compound sentences. There is a lack of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional clauses or passive voice, which are expected at higher levels. For example, instead of 'this course needs in person training,' you could use 'as the course requires in-person attendance, I am unable to continue.' Increasing the variety of your sentence structures will significantly improve your score.

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

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