Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-07

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 would like to ask you about my course please cancel it immediately because i have other thing to do and don't have time to attend it.

Administrator I was booked a part-time course of computer web development because I was a student of (ICS) and that's why I booked that part-time course. That helps me going to university and be prepared before the university starts.

Because I was not selected for my relevant degree and that is why I was doing another degree about business administration. That is why I canceled my booking of that course part-time.

I would ask you about can you tell me about other courses of that would help me in my degree about business administration. I want you give me detail about courses that would help me in my university education. I would specially know about a course name MS Excel Advanced.

Yours Faithfully,

Asjad Iqbaal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task: identifying the course, explaining the reason for cancellation, and inquiring about alternative options. However, the development of these points is somewhat repetitive and lacks professional tone. For instance, the explanation for the cancellation is fragmented across two paragraphs, which makes the logic slightly difficult to follow. To improve, ensure that each bullet point is addressed in a distinct, well-developed paragraph. While you have covered the requirements, the tone is occasionally too informal for a formal letter to a college administrator, which limits the effectiveness of your communication.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow between them is weak. You use basic cohesive devices like 'because' and 'that is why' repeatedly, which makes the writing feel mechanical. The transition between the cancellation request and the inquiry about new courses is abrupt. To reach a higher band, try to use a wider variety of linking words and phrases, such as 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in light of this.' Additionally, ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus; currently, the ideas are somewhat scattered, which hinders the overall progression of your message.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is quite limited and repetitive. You rely heavily on basic words like 'booked,' 'course,' and 'help.' There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'I was booked a part-time course' (should be 'I booked') and 'I would specially know about' (should be 'I would specifically like to inquire about'). To improve, focus on using more precise academic or professional vocabulary. For example, instead of saying 'I have other thing to do,' you could use 'unforeseen personal commitments' or 'a change in my academic schedule.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter that occasionally impede clarity. You struggle with verb tenses and sentence structure, such as 'I was booked' instead of the active voice 'I booked,' and 'I would ask you about can you tell me,' which is a redundant and incorrect question structure. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and sentence boundaries. While you attempt some complex sentences, they are often faulty. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and avoiding run-on sentences will significantly improve your accuracy and readability.

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

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