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 or Maam,

Hope you are doing well. Straight forward, I recently booked a part-time course at your college. I have booked a part-time cooking course last August 28,2026. I really love to join the course as I really love cooking and making something special for my love ones during special occasions. But last night as I was thinking I rather choose academic course for a part-time course. I am really slow with Geometry . This will make my life easier if I take this instead.

I would like to cancel my booking on cooking and take geometry instead. Can I ask your good office if there is still a slot available on geometry part-time course. Please feel free to contact me on this phone number provided [redacted phone]. I would like some feedback so I know my next move. Thank you for your kind consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Ivory Balisong

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: identifying the course, explaining the reason for cancellation, and inquiring about a different course. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, although the opening 'Straight forward' is slightly informal. The ideas are clear and the purpose of the letter is immediately apparent to the reader. To reach a higher band, the development of the reasons could be more professional; for instance, explaining the need for academic support in Geometry is a good idea, but the phrasing is somewhat simplistic. Overall, the task is fully addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized, with a clear progression from the purpose of the letter to the request for a change. Paragraphing is present, though the structure is somewhat cramped. The use of cohesive devices is limited; for example, the transition between the cooking course and the desire for a geometry course is a bit abrupt. Using more varied linking words such as 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'in light of this' would improve the flow and help the reader navigate the shift in plans more smoothly.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. Phrases like 'make my life easier' and 'I really love' are repetitive and somewhat informal. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'I rather choose' instead of 'I would rather choose' or 'I have decided to choose'. While the message is clear, the range of vocabulary is limited to basic, everyday language. Incorporating more formal, topic-specific vocabulary would enhance the quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writing contains a mix of simple and complex sentences. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'I have booked... last August' (should be simple past 'I booked'), 'I rather choose' (missing auxiliary), and 'I am really slow with Geometry' (slightly awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally functional, though there are minor issues with spacing after commas. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on verb tense consistency and sentence structure variety will help improve accuracy.

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

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