Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-21
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 or Madam,
I hope you are doing well. I am Rahul a resident of India. I am writting to inform you that i have booked the part-time course the name of the course is Master in Education at Post Graduation college.
I want to cancel my booking of the part-time course as i had a convocation with my parents and i had find that i have a more interest in another course rather than in Master in Education.
Moreover, i want to know about any another course which is related to supervision or leadership. Please let me know .
I am looking forword to hear from you.
your's Faithfully,
Rahul
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers all three bullet points: identifying the course, explaining the cancellation, and inquiring about alternatives. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the development of ideas. The explanation for the cancellation is somewhat vague ('convocation with my parents'), and the request for a new course lacks detail. To improve, you must expand on your reasons and provide more context to meet the length requirement and demonstrate a fuller development of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The letter follows a basic structure with an opening, body paragraphs, and a closing. However, the progression of ideas is quite limited due to the brevity of the text. Cohesive devices are used in a very mechanical way, such as 'Moreover' and 'I am writing to inform you'. Paragraphing is present, but the overall flow is hindered by the lack of sentence variety and the short length of the paragraphs. To reach a higher band, you should use a wider range of linking words to connect your ideas more naturally.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'I am writing to inform you' and 'I want to cancel' are functional but lack sophistication. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'had a convocation with my parents' (likely meaning 'discussion' or 'consultation') and 'had find that I have a more interest'. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise, academic, or formal business terminology would significantly improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains several grammatical errors that affect the quality of the writing. Common issues include incorrect verb tenses ('had find'), missing articles, and punctuation errors (e.g., 'your's Faithfully'). The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of errors in basic grammar and the lack of structural variety prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage is essential.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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