Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-14

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 Madam,

I am writing this letter to you regarding which course i booked as a part time as i want to cancel it. I enrolled in human resiurce management course in your college part-time, i need to cancel the booking.

I have some reason for this, firstly, this course has no many benefits, my background is in healthcare. i want to choose other course which will be helpful in my future. Moreover, the fees also high, i cannot affort it.

I want to take other course such as a healthcare aide which will be beneficial for me and it perfect match for my background . in addition, fee also be in low in this course.

Thank for your considerations,

Best regard,

Himanshi

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover all three required points: you identify the Human Resource Management course, explain that your healthcare background and the high fees are reasons for cancelling, and ask about taking a healthcare aide course instead. The purpose is clear, and the alternative course is relevant. However, the reasons and request are only briefly explained; for example, you do not say what makes the current course unsuitable or ask about availability, fees, or how to transfer your booking. The response is also 27 words below the required minimum, so it needs more development to meet the task fully. Add a polite, specific request for cancellation and information about enrolling in the alternative course.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a generally understandable order: you introduce the booking, give reasons for cancelling, and then mention the course you would prefer. Paragraphing helps distinguish these stages, and linking expressions such as “firstly” and “Moreover” show how your reasons relate. Some connections are mechanical or unclear, however. “I am writing…regarding which course i booked…as i want to cancel it” combines the purpose and course details awkwardly, while “I want to take other course” does not clearly make this a request to the administrator. Use a clearer sequence of short paragraphs and connect ideas with precise references, such as “I would therefore like to cancel my place” and “Could you tell me whether…?”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main message, including “part-time,” “Human Resource Management,” “healthcare,” “fees,” and “beneficial.” The reader can identify the course and understand your reasons. However, the range is limited, and several spelling and word-choice errors reduce accuracy: “resiurce,” “affort,” and “no many benefits” are noticeable, while “fee also be in low” is not a natural expression. Some phrases are also too general, such as “some reason for this.” Build a more precise set of formal letter expressions and check spelling and collocations. For example, explain that the course is “not closely related to my professional background” and ask about “the course fee and enrolment process.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple sentences and longer structures, including “I have some reason for this, firstly…” and “I want to take other course such as…,” so there is some variety. The main message remains understandable, but errors in sentence boundaries, articles, verb forms, and punctuation occur across the letter. For instance, “my background is in healthcare. i want…” needs a capital letter, and “the fees also high” is missing a verb. “It perfect match” also needs a subject and verb, while “which will be helpful in my future” is not well formed in context. Practise accurate basic sentence patterns first, then use a few controlled complex sentences with correct articles and verbs.

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

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