Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-24

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,

Hope you are doing great. I just want to inform you that it's becoming difficult for me to attend your evening batch, because i have shift on the same time of batch. There is nobody who can cover my shift.

I decide to take break from studies for this semester as, for now i have to focus on my work because i just got job and i can not leave it.

It will be very helpful for me if you can shift me in your next semester. Till that time my training period is finished and i can change my schedule at work. i would really appreciate if you can understand my situation and give your undivided attention to my matter.

Hoping to get positive response from you side as soon as possible.

Regards,

Harwinder Singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task: explaining the situation, stating your desired outcome, and asking for advice. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement (138 words). This negatively impacts the task achievement score, as the ideas are not fully developed or extended. To improve, you should provide more detail regarding your current work situation or the specific course you are taking to ensure you meet the length requirement and provide a more comprehensive response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your message. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'because' and 'as', but the flow is somewhat mechanical. The transition between the explanation of your work situation and the request for a deferral is clear. To reach a higher band, try to use a wider variety of linking words and phrases (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in light of this') to connect your ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks variety and sophistication. You rely on simple phrasing such as 'doing great' and 'get job'. While your meaning is clear, the language is somewhat informal and repetitive. To improve, aim to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to professional communication and academic deferrals. For example, instead of 'shift me', use 'defer my enrollment' or 'transfer my registration'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are several grammatical errors throughout the text, such as 'i have shift on the same time' (should be 'I have a shift at the same time') and 'i just got job' (should be 'I just got a job'). Additionally, there are issues with capitalization of the pronoun 'I' and inconsistent punctuation. While the meaning remains understandable, these frequent errors indicate a lack of control over basic sentence structures. You should focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement, articles, and proper capitalization.

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

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