Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-03

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 Madam,

I am writing to cancel my reservation for part time Business communication course starting on next month. I would appericiate if you could provide me details of different course which will start in next month with timings.

I have registered in evening shift of business course which will take place at 5 pm to 7 pm, already paid my full fees for that.

Unfortunately, my employer has recently changed my work schedule from morning to evening, as my coworker went for long vacation and he will come back after 2 months as he has some family celebrations.

I would be happy if you could provide me details which other programs will start next month in the mornings from 7 Am to till 2.30 pm. It would be also happy knowing my recent payments could be transferred to new booking.

Thank you for your valuable time and assistance .I look forward to hear from you soon.

Your faithfully,

Sayam

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter covers all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly identify the course, explain the change in work schedule as the reason for cancellation, and inquire about alternative morning courses and the transfer of fees. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to an administrator. However, the development of ideas is slightly repetitive, particularly regarding the explanation of the work schedule change. To reach a higher band, ensure that the purpose of each paragraph is distinct and that the information flows more efficiently without unnecessary detail about the coworker's vacation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear opening and closing. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Unfortunately' and 'However' to link ideas. Paragraphing is present, though the structure could be improved by separating the cancellation request from the inquiry about new courses more clearly. Some transitions are a bit mechanical, and the flow between sentences occasionally feels disjointed. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus to guide the reader through your request.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'reservation', 'registered', and 'assistance'. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'provide me details of different course' (missing article) and 'till 2.30 pm' (informal). Spelling errors like 'appericiate' also occur. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Expanding your use of formal business terminology would enhance the professional tone of your correspondence.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including missing articles ('the Business communication course'), incorrect preposition usage ('registered in' instead of 'for'), and tense inconsistencies. Punctuation is generally functional, but there are errors in the closing salutation ('Your faithfully' should be 'Yours faithfully'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles to improve the accuracy of your writing.

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

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