Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-13

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 5.0)

Dear sir,

I writing to letter for request to cancellation for my part time course booking .

I am minaxi , I am student of mca , I am doing part time course in college , course is Ai machine language. I attend my regular class with part time course class but next week I have college exam then I can't not available for class for ai .

can I cancel my booking for part time course?

I want to learn this course but don't have time for class so i want to cancel my course and only consecrate on my regular class. I got high score in my exam .

I hope you will consider my request and cancel my part time course booking, my request will be heeded too

Thanking you,

Your faithful

mini

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: identifying the course, explaining the reason for cancellation, and inquiring about a future course. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the development of ideas. The explanation regarding the conflict between the AI course and college exams is clear, but the request for a different course is underdeveloped and lacks specific detail. To improve, you should expand on your desire to reschedule, perhaps by asking about upcoming dates or alternative formats, to ensure the response meets the length requirement and provides a more professional tone.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the basic structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is very limited and often mechanical. There is a lack of linking words to connect ideas smoothly between sentences. For example, the transition between explaining the exam conflict and asking about a different course is abrupt. Improving the use of transition signals such as 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in addition' would help create a more logical flow and improve the overall coherence of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive, relying on simple structures to convey meaning. There are several errors in word choice and phrasing, such as 'consecrate' (likely meant 'concentrate') and 'heeded too.' The range of vocabulary is insufficient to demonstrate the flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology related to academic settings and formal correspondence, such as 'enrolling,' 'scheduling conflict,' or 'alternative arrangements,' rather than relying on informal or incorrectly used words.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('I writing to letter'), article usage, and sentence structure ('I can't not available'). The punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and capitalization. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors indicates a lack of control over basic sentence structures. You should focus on mastering simple sentence construction before attempting more complex structures, paying close attention to verb tenses and auxiliary verbs.

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

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