Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-12

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 7.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to defer my course to next term because of my busy schedule this term. My name is Nav and I have recently joined cookery course.

I am currently working full-time that leaves me with little to no time to pursue this course. Initially, I thought that I will manage everything efficiently but now it is getting out of my hands.

I would really appreciate if you could help me in deferring my course to next semester because I am planning to switch my job to part-time next year, which means I can spare some time to learn cookery. During this year, despite of my hectic schedule I will try and learn basic of cooking and baking. This will make my foundation stronger and when I continue my studies in next year I will not have to study the basics.

Lastly, I would like to ask your advice on my decision. I request you to give me suggestions on how can I manage my time effectively and how I can study so that when I rejoin I know the basics.

I look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,

Nav

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly explain your situation regarding your full-time work, state your intention to defer the course to the next term, and ask for advice on how to manage your time and prepare in the interim. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter, and the purpose is clear from the beginning. To reach a higher band, you could provide slightly more specific details about the course or your current schedule to further develop your ideas, but overall, the task requirements are fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow your train of thought. You use some cohesive devices such as 'initially', 'but now', and 'lastly' to link your ideas. However, the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that transitions between sentences are smoother. For example, the transition between your request to defer and your plan to study basics could be more tightly connected.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'defer', 'hectic schedule', and 'foundation'. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it is somewhat standard. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations or less common lexical items that sound more natural in a formal context. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication, but some phrasing, such as 'learn basic of cooking', is slightly unnatural and would benefit from more idiomatic expression.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'I would really appreciate if you could help me...' and 'This will make my foundation stronger and when I continue...'. While the meaning is always clear, there are some grammatical slips, such as 'despite of' (which should be 'despite' or 'in spite of') and 'learn basic of cooking' (which should be 'learn the basics of cooking'). Additionally, there are minor errors with articles and prepositions. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences would help you achieve a higher band.

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

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