Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-04

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,

I hope this letter finds you in a good way,

I am writing this because I am stuck in worst situation where I can not find the solution.

As I have enrolled in an evening course which is Data Science program, this is my dream course. However, the problem with this course is that my full time job issue.

I worked 9:am to 9:pm from Monday to Saturday. I am busy with my working hours so I could not have time for my studies.

This course plays significat role in my organisation, so I would like to be continue in next semester. I told my boss to reduce my working hours so I can handle my studies as well.

Please give me an advice for my situation that what should I do? I am very delighted to your ideas. If you meet to in person, I feel proud of my self.

Thank you for your kind act,

Yours sincerely,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt: explaining the situation, stating your desire to defer, and asking for advice. However, the development of these points is somewhat limited. For instance, the explanation of your work schedule is clear, but the request for advice is phrased in a way that is slightly unnatural for a formal letter. To reach a higher band, ensure that the tone is consistently formal and that the purpose of the letter is clearly articulated from the opening sentence. The content is relevant, but the overall development of ideas could be more sophisticated to better suit the formal context of an academic or professional request.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the explanation of the problem to the proposed solution and finally the request for advice. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. For example, the transition between the explanation of your job and the request to continue in the next semester is abrupt. Paragraphing is present, but the structure is quite basic. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect your ideas more fluidly, and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus to enhance the overall flow of the correspondence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your situation clearly. You use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'enrolled', 'Data Science program', and 'semester'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'in a good way' (which is not standard for a formal letter) and 'I am very delighted to your ideas'. These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the precision of your writing. Expanding your range of formal expressions and collocations will help you achieve a higher score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'I am stuck in worst situation', 'I would like to be continue', and 'If you meet to in person'. These errors, particularly with verb forms and prepositions, are noticeable. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive and active voice. While your sentences are understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from being considered highly accurate. Increasing your control over basic sentence construction will significantly improve your score.

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

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