Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-14

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 hope this email finds you well .

The purpose of this email is to formally apologize for cancelling the Geography part-time course booked.

I take completely responsibility for all this inconvenience caused . However, I joined evening crash course of geography with James starting from Monday to Friday 8pm to 10 pm classes . Therefore, the reason behind last minute cancellation is that I got promotion and opportunity to move to other area of the city due to which I don't think so I am able to attend this course.

Nevertheless, I acknowledge how challenging it is for you as admissions are closed . Moreover, I am still interested if there is any online course available preferably on weekends then I can join that and still achieve my desire goals for the geography.

I sincerely hope this change is acceptable for you and I am looking forward to discuss any other substitute.

Yours faithfully

Reet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly identified the course, provided a logical reason for the cancellation (a promotion and relocation), and inquired about alternative online options. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to an administrator. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. To reach a higher band, ensure that the details provided are slightly more precise; for example, mentioning the specific course code or your student ID would add a layer of realism and professionalism to the correspondence.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the purpose of the email to the explanation, and finally to the request for alternatives. You have used some cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Therefore', and 'Moreover' to link your ideas. However, the paragraphing is slightly fragmented, with some very short paragraphs that could be better integrated. Additionally, the transition between the apology and the explanation could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would enhance the overall flow and coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'formally apologize' and 'last minute cancellation' are appropriate for the context. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'take completely responsibility' (should be 'complete responsibility') and 'achieve my desire goals' (should be 'desired goals'). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more careful attention to word forms and collocations to reach a higher band. Expanding your range of formal expressions would also be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'cancelling the Geography part-time course booked' (missing an article or relative clause), 'move to other area' (missing an article), and 'I don't think so I am able to' (awkward phrasing). While the meaning remains clear, these errors occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on article usage, subject-verb agreement, and more natural sentence construction. Proofreading for small slips in prepositions and articles would significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

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

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