Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-09-05

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 or Madam,

I am writing this letter in regards with the course I have been registered in the evening. The schedule of my work has been changed from yesterday and that brings me to raise the concern to enroll in the next upcoming semester rather.

I would greatly appreciate if you add me in the group studies session so I can learn some novel knowledge meantime.

I would also like to seek some advise from you about this matter that what are the next steps should I take about joining the new session next month.

I look forward hearing from you soon.

Yours Faithfully

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the development of the required points. While all three bullet points are addressed, the explanation of the situation is brief, and the request for advice is somewhat vague. The suggestion to join a 'group studies session' is slightly confusing in the context of needing to postpone the course due to a busy schedule. To improve, you must expand on your ideas to provide a more complete and professional explanation, ensuring the letter reaches the required length to fully develop your points.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a basic logical structure with an appropriate opening and closing. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and somewhat mechanical. For example, the transition between the explanation of the work schedule and the request to join a group session is abrupt. Paragraphing is present, but the overall flow is hindered by the brevity of the text. To achieve a higher band, focus on 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.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range expected at higher levels. There are some awkward collocations, such as 'in regards with' (should be 'in regard to') and 'novel knowledge' (which sounds unnatural in this context). The word choice is functional but repetitive. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to professional correspondence and course administration, and pay closer attention to standard English collocations to ensure your writing sounds natural and professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains several grammatical errors that affect the clarity of the message. Examples include 'I have been registered in the evening' (should be 'enrolled in the evening course'), 'that brings me to raise the concern' (awkward phrasing), and 'I look forward hearing' (should be 'I look forward to hearing'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the range of sentence structures is limited, and the errors are frequent enough to be noticeable. Focusing on correct verb patterns and preposition usage will help improve your accuracy.

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

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