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 this letter finds you well. I am requesting you to cancel a course that I booked in your college.

Last week, I booked a course entitled "Role of Clinical Pharmacist in society". that will be an evening program and start from Monday to Friday at 7.30pm.

However, it is very interesting course in which I want to enrolled as, I have Pharma background. Unfortunately, I have to cancelled it due to the timing issues. This course is starts from 20 January and it would be difficult for me to Jjoin it because on 19 January my whole family will go to shimla to attend my cousin's marriage for one week.

Moreover, is it possible to entroll me in the other course that is "Industrial Pharmacist Role in Society". Additionally, if there is any extra fees for this course is required. Beside, what are the start timing of this course.

I hope you consider all my concern and queries in a very positive manner.

Thank you

Your's sincerely

XYZ

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points required by the prompt: identifying the course, explaining the reason for cancellation, and inquiring about an alternative. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the explanation regarding the family wedding is a bit informal and could be expressed more professionally. Additionally, the request for a different course is clear, but the phrasing is slightly repetitive. To reach a higher band, ensure that your explanation of the cancellation is concise and that your inquiries about the new course are structured more formally.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the purpose of the letter to the explanation and finally the request. You have used some cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Moreover', and 'Additionally'. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and the paragraphing is not fully developed. The transition between the cancellation reason and the new request could be smoother. Furthermore, the letter lacks a clear concluding sentence before the sign-off, which affects the overall flow. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have an adequate range of vocabulary to communicate your message effectively. You use subject-specific terms like 'Clinical Pharmacist' and 'Industrial Pharmacist'. However, there are several errors in word choice and form, such as 'want to enrolled' (should be 'want to enroll') and 'cancelled it' (should be 'cancel it'). Some phrasing is also slightly unnatural, such as 'start timing'. To improve, focus on using correct verb forms and collocations. While your vocabulary is sufficient for the task, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Expanding your repertoire of formal business expressions would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include 'This course is starts from' (should be 'This course starts on'), 'if there is any extra fees... is required' (a redundant structure), and 'Your's sincerely' (should be 'Yours sincerely'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the placement of periods and capitalization. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will help improve your accuracy.

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

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