Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 wrriting this letter regarding cancellation of booking for course, which i have been selected in last month.

My name is kishan. I have been enrolled in english subject for new baches. beacause i have vacation time. Unfortunately, My father is admitted in hospital before two days ago. and it would take 2 weeks for discharged from hospital as per doctor suggestion. Therefore, I am looking everything for him. beacause i am person in my home for looking him. In this situation, I unable to attaend the classes. Beacuase my time does not match with classes time. beacuse doctor is visted on this time. Thus, he is giving suggestion for treatment.

I would like to request regarding canclellation of ragistration for this batches. otherwise, could you help me to transfer in next baches. If it is not possible then I would like to request for refund of fees. Apprently, You can understand the circumstances.

I appriciated for your prompt response.

Yours faithfaully,

Kishan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main requirements: you identify the English course, explain that your father’s hospitalisation means you cannot attend, and ask to cancel or transfer your booking. The reason is relevant and understandable, so the reader can see why you need to change your plans. However, some details are unclear or less fully developed. For example, “new baches” does not make clear which course or start date you mean, and the request for a different course is conditional rather than specific. You also introduce a fee refund, which is not necessary to the task and could distract from the transfer request. State clearly which course you booked and ask directly about available alternatives and how to move your booking.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter has a recognisable structure, with an opening, an explanation, a request, and a closing. The sequence from your father’s hospitalisation to your inability to attend is generally logical, and connectors such as “Unfortunately,” “Therefore,” and “Thus” help show relationships between ideas. However, several links are repetitive or do not clarify the progression: “because” is repeated, and “Thus, he is giving suggestion for treatment” does not clearly connect to the booking request. Some sentences are also fragmented, such as “and it would take 2 weeks for discharged from hospital.” Group the reason into a concise paragraph, then make the cancellation and alternative-course request in a separate paragraph, using clear references and fewer, more purposeful connectors.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use vocabulary relevant to the situation, including “cancellation,” “hospital,” “classes,” “treatment,” and “refund,” so the basic message is conveyed. There are also attempts at more formal language, such as “I would like to request” and “prompt response.” However, spelling errors are noticeable throughout, including “wrriting,” “beacause,” “attaend,” and “appriciated,” and some word choices or collocations are unclear: “selected in last month,” “for looking him,” and “transfer in next baches.” These errors make parts of the letter harder to read and limit precision. Check spelling carefully and use natural phrases such as “enrolled in the course last month,” “care for him,” and “transfer my booking to a later course.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a reason clause with “because” and a conditional request beginning “If it is not possible.” This shows some range, and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, sentence structures and verb forms are often inaccurate, as in “I have been enrolled in english subject for new baches” and “it would take 2 weeks for discharged from hospital.” Other examples include “I unable to attaend” and “doctor is visted on this time,” where the verb forms or sentence construction are faulty. Punctuation and capitalisation also need attention, particularly the lower-case “and” after a full stop and inconsistent capitals. Practise complete sentences with accurate subject–verb patterns and use a clear past or present tense consistently.

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

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