Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-30

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,

I am a currently student at your college. I recently booked a part time course you recently organized for students. The name of the course is fundamental of computer applications. Which i have chose by mistake.

After a week i realize that i have a subject of computer fundamentals is include in my degree subject as well. So this will be completely unusual for me. Instead of that i am really interested in political subject which is not included in my college degree. So please help me to change my course from computer fundamentals to political subject.

As i mentioned above that i am really interested in politics, I want to join politics in future and will make my city or country better for every individual. By giving opportunities like modern schools and giving employment to everyone which can help in growth of economic and social.

Yours Sincerely,

Atul

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all three bullet points: the course name is provided, the reason for cancellation is explained, and a request for a different course is made. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. The explanation for the cancellation is clear, but the final paragraph regarding your future career goals in politics is largely irrelevant to the task of cancelling a course and requesting a change. This digression detracts from the professional tone required for a formal letter. To improve, ensure that all content remains focused on the specific administrative request to keep the letter concise and relevant to the recipient.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For example, 'Instead of that' is not the most natural way to transition between ideas in a formal context. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the sentence 'Which i have chose by mistake', which is a sentence fragment that lacks a clear connection to the previous statement. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that sentences are complete would significantly enhance the flow and logical progression of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'unusual' to describe a course that is already part of your degree, and 'political subject' instead of 'political science'. You also rely on basic phrasing. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and academic terminology appropriate for a college setting. For instance, instead of saying 'help me to change', you could use 'request a transfer' or 'amend my enrolment'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede readability. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('I am a currently student'), incorrect verb tenses ('I realize' instead of 'I realized'), and sentence fragments ('Which i have chose by mistake'). The use of articles and prepositions is also inconsistent. While you attempt some complex structures, they are often marred by these errors. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically ensuring that every sentence has a clear subject and a correctly conjugated verb, and pay closer attention to tense consistency when narrating past events.

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

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