Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-29

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 college administrators,

I am part time student of your college id number 236. I took early childhood course last week .

I heard from my friend that this course is good but i did not find my interest in this stream . I am more practical person so it is opposite about my character. If i have non interested in something it is very difficult for me to do that thing . Thats why i want to change my course .

So i am requesting you to change my course.

Sharandeep Singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 93 words. While you have addressed the three bullet points—identifying the course, explaining the reason for cancellation, and requesting a change—the ideas are underdeveloped. The explanation regarding your interest is repetitive and lacks the necessary detail to fully satisfy the task requirements. To improve, you must expand on your reasons and provide more specific information about the alternative course you wish to book, ensuring the letter is sufficiently long and professional in tone.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter lacks a clear structure. The paragraphing is insufficient, and the flow of ideas is somewhat disjointed. While there is a basic attempt to sequence the points, the lack of cohesive devices makes the transition between ideas feel mechanical. For example, the jump from explaining your character to requesting a change is abrupt. To achieve a higher band, you should use clear paragraph breaks for each point and incorporate linking words such as 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in light of this' to improve the logical progression of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'this course is good' and 'do that thing' are overly simplistic and lack the precision expected in a formal letter. There is little evidence of a range of vocabulary beyond common, everyday words. To improve, you should aim to use more formal collocations and precise terminology related to academic settings, such as 'enrolled in,' 'curriculum,' 'transfer,' or 'administrative procedures.' Expanding your range will help you convey your message more effectively and professionally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are several grammatical errors throughout the text, including missing articles ('I am part time student'), incorrect verb forms ('If i have non interested'), and punctuation issues. The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and varying your sentence structure. For instance, instead of using several short, simple sentences, try combining them using subordinating conjunctions to create more complex and fluent expressions.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.