Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-05

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 6.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to kindly request the cancellation of my part-time biology course that I booked last week. An unforeseen change in my work schedule led me to make this decision.

I have a keen interest in learning biology. In order to pursue a higher degree, I took admission in your college in the part-time September batch. Unfortunately, a recent change in my work schedule would not let me attend the classes - as both the times overlap.

I would appreciate it if you could assist me in this regards and tell me if there is a specific timeframe or any formal procedures that I need to follow to cancel my booking and to get a fee refund. I am also willing to transfer my fee to any other related online course that your college offers.

I look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,

Harman

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: identifying the course, explaining the cancellation, and inquiring about alternatives. However, the response is slightly under the 150-word minimum, which is a negative factor. While the tone is appropriate for a formal letter, the development of ideas is somewhat brief. To reach a higher band, ensure that the explanation for the cancellation is slightly more detailed and that the letter meets the length requirement to ensure full coverage of the task instructions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the purpose of the letter from the specific details and the request for further information. Cohesive devices such as 'Unfortunately', 'In order to', and 'I would appreciate it if' are used appropriately to link ideas. The progression of information is clear and easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a coherent response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate for a formal request. Phrases like 'unforeseen change', 'keen interest', and 'formal procedures' demonstrate a good level of control. There is one minor collocation error: 'took admission in your college' should be 'enrolled in your college'. Despite this, the range is sufficient to convey the message clearly and professionally. The student uses a variety of words that are relevant to the context of academic administration.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The letter displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are a few minor grammatical issues, such as 'in this regards' which should be 'in this regard', and the phrasing 'as both the times overlap' is slightly awkward. However, these errors do not impede communication. The majority of the sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is generally accurate. The control over complex structures is sufficient for this task level.

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

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