Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-27

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 college administrator,

i hope you are doing well. I am currently enroll in computer sciences course in this college. i have attended the classes from last 2 weeks but i didnot understand the things especially softwares or computer langauges.

Its to much difficult for me to memorise all these tough terminologies. I have one more issue in this class, that is my fellows didnot coperative that's why i want to switch my course .

I want to move fine arts course because my best friend is in this course. She encourges me to change my course. Fine arts attract me mainly because it have very interesting course related to painting or designing. In this course fabric paints, canvass paint or pottry gain my attraction and inspire me to change my course . when i compare computer sciences with fine arts course former mention course is too much dry, incomprehensible and diffcult to memorise their words.

i will be very thankfull if you help me to change my course .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the three main points: you identify the computer science course, explain that the subject is difficult and that classmates are uncooperative, and ask to move to fine arts. The reasons for choosing fine arts are also relevant, particularly your interest in painting and design. However, the request is not fully clear as an administrative action: “I want to move fine arts course” does not explicitly ask whether a place is available or how to arrange the transfer. Some explanations, such as your friend’s encouragement and the course topics, are more developed than the practical cancellation request. State clearly that you wish to cancel your current booking and ask whether you can book the fine arts course instead.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The ideas follow a generally understandable sequence: you describe your current course, give reasons for leaving, introduce the alternative, and finish with a request for help. Linking phrases such as “that’s why” and “because” help show relationships between ideas. However, the letter is presented as one continuous block, so the shift from explaining the cancellation to asking about fine arts is not clearly signposted. Some connections are also repetitive, especially the repeated comparison of the courses as difficult or dry. Use separate paragraphs for the cancellation reasons, the proposed alternative, and your request, and make the final question explicit. This would make the progression easier to follow without changing your relevant content.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use vocabulary relevant to the subject, including “software,” “computer languages,” “terminologies,” “painting,” and “designing,” and you attempt more specific terms such as “canvas” and “pottery.” However, inaccurate spelling and word choice sometimes weaken clarity: “langauges,” “coperative,” “encourges,” and “diffcult” are misspelled, while “fabric paints” and “canvass paint” are not expressed naturally in this context. Phrases such as “too much dry” and “gain my attraction” also sound awkward. Aim for accurate, natural collocations—for example, “the course is too theoretical” and “I am interested in pottery”—and check spelling carefully. Your meaning remains generally understandable, but these errors limit precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences with reasons, as in “I have one more issue in this class, that is my fellows didnot coperative that's why i want to switch my course.” This shows an effort to connect ideas, but some sentence structures and verb forms are inaccurate. For example, write “I am currently enrolled” rather than “I am currently enroll,” and “I have attended classes for the last two weeks” rather than “from last 2 weeks.” In “Fine arts … it have,” the subject–verb agreement is incorrect; use “the course has.” Capitalisation and punctuation also need more consistent control. Build accuracy by using shorter, complete sentences alongside carefully checked complex sentences.

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

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