Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-27

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,

I am writing this letter in regard of cancellation of the part-time course which I booked recently. I would like to explain my reason in the further letter.

To begin with, The course which I booked was early childhood course. It will begin in January intake. Also, this course is just for 4 months and it will be a part-time course.

Furthermore, The reason I would not be able to join this course is that I have to go to my hometown on an urgent basis due to some personal issue. Moreover, I think I will not be back by the starting date of the course.

In addition , I would like to cancel the booking of this course and book the digital marketing course as it will get start from March and till that time I will be back in the country. Also, this course will help me more in my further studies.

I look forwarding to hearing from you. If you require any further information from me , please do not hesitate to contact me.

Your Faithfully,

Isha Goyal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points: identifying the course, explaining the reason for cancellation, and inquiring about an alternative course. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to an administrator. However, the development of ideas is somewhat basic. For instance, the explanation for the cancellation is quite brief ('personal issue'), and the request for the new course could be more detailed regarding the enrollment process. Despite this, the purpose of the letter is clear, and the reader is fully informed of the writer's intentions. To reach a higher band, providing slightly more context or specific details would improve the overall quality of the response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific requirement of the prompt. The use of cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'In addition' helps to guide the reader through the text. However, some of the transitions feel a bit mechanical or slightly repetitive. Additionally, the paragraphing is generally effective, though the flow between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. Overall, the information is easy to follow, and the structure is appropriate for a formal letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task, allowing the writer to communicate their needs clearly. There are some attempts at using topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'intake' and 'booking'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'in the further letter' (should be 'in this letter' or 'below') and 'get start' (should be 'starts'). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Using more precise collocations would enhance the professional tone of the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The letter uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'in regard of' (should be 'in regard to'), 'The course which I booked was early childhood course' (missing article 'an'), and 'Your Faithfully' (should be 'Yours faithfully'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, although there are some inconsistent spaces before commas. The writer demonstrates a reasonable control of grammar, but the frequency of minor errors suggests that a band 6.0 is the most accurate reflection of their current level of accuracy.

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

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