Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-07-31

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have enrolled in an evening course but you have found that you are too busy to continue and would like to take the course next term instead.

• explain the situation and why you cannot continue the course

• say what you would like to do about your studies

• ask for advice about what you can do about the situation

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Dear Sir/ Madam

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing this email to request to take course next term.

Firstly, I would like to explain the situation why I cannot continue the course, because as i found myself too busy and do not attend eveing course, as my father is sick to I have to work for my family, so i decided to contiune my cousre next term. Moreover, I would like to do contiune my studies. Lastly, I want to ask for advice to should I do at this situation.

Thank you for your time and understanding. I look foreword to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

Manpreet chopra

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all three bullet points of the prompt, but the development is insufficient. The explanation of the situation is brief and somewhat repetitive, and the request for advice is phrased awkwardly. Crucially, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement (113 words), which negatively impacts the task achievement score as the ideas are not fully developed or extended as required for a formal letter. To improve, you should expand on your personal circumstances and provide more detail regarding your desire to resume the course, ensuring you meet the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a basic structure with an opening, body, and closing. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as the repetitive use of 'I would like to' and 'Lastly'. The logical progression between sentences is occasionally hindered by grammatical errors, making the flow feel disjointed. Paragraphing is present but could be more effectively used to separate the different requirements of the task. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words like 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'in light of this' to connect your ideas more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, which limits the ability to convey the situation with precision. There are several word-choice errors, such as 'do not attend eveing course' instead of 'am unable to attend the evening course' and 'to should I do' instead of 'what I should do'. The range of vocabulary is narrow, relying on simple, everyday language. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more formal, topic-specific vocabulary related to course enrollment and personal circumstances, and pay closer attention to collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with sentence structure, such as run-on sentences ('...because as i found myself too busy and do not attend eveing course, as my father is sick to I have to work...'), and persistent errors with verb tenses and prepositions. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization of 'I'. While simple sentences are generally understandable, the attempts at more complex structures are often faulty. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement will help improve your accuracy.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.