Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-23

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 am writing this letter to inform that , recently I booked Master course in your college in english department. Therefore

I changed my mind with this course because i have more multiple choices after my graduation and now my plan about this course totally changed into PHD course . I want a scholarship with my degree there fore i changed this course . PHD in English I want a Dr. in front of my name . So I choose this course , and cancelled my booking . This course when i choose its fees very high and get a wrong location . This college root was very opposite to my current location to college . However , buses and trains are not available on this palace . So, I decided change my plan.

I await a favorable response.

Thank you for your consideration.

Jyoti

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: identifying the course, explaining the cancellation, and inquiring about a different course. However, the development of these points is somewhat disjointed and confusing. The explanation for the cancellation is repetitive and lacks clarity, particularly regarding the transition from a Master's to a PhD. Furthermore, the letter fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the overall task completion. To improve, ensure that each point is explained logically and that the letter meets the length requirement to allow for full development of ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter lacks a clear paragraph structure, which makes the flow of information difficult to follow. While there are some attempts at cohesive devices like 'Therefore' and 'However', they are often used incorrectly or in a way that does not logically connect the ideas. The progression of ideas is erratic, jumping from academic goals to logistical issues like transport without smooth transitions. To improve, organize the letter into distinct paragraphs for each bullet point and use linking words more naturally to guide the reader through your reasoning.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'palace' instead of 'place' and 'root' instead of 'route'. The phrasing 'I want a Dr. in front of my name' is informal and not appropriate for a formal letter to a college administrator. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to express complex ideas clearly. To improve, focus on using more precise, formal vocabulary and check for common spelling and collocation errors that hinder the professional tone of the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with sentence structure, verb tense, and punctuation. For example, 'This course when i choose its fees very high' is grammatically incorrect and difficult to parse. Many sentences are fragmented or run-on, which obscures the intended meaning. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the errors in basic grammar are frequent enough to cause some difficulty for the reader. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and proper sentence construction will significantly improve the clarity of your writing.

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

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