Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-09-09

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 6.5)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to request an exemption for this term evening course. My sister had an accident on the 7th July 2026 and has been hospitalised therefore she would require my assistance at the hospital. I would like to be excused from this year's course as it would be rather challenging to concentrate on my studies as a result of the trauma from hearing this sad news as it could affect my examination results. She is an orphan and incapable of taking care of herself, however I require your advice on how to handle this situation. I was wondering if I could take a break for the moment and render some help to her. In addition, I require an exemption letter from the department in order to facilitate my leave so resume next term to continue my course.

I look forward to hearing from you, I would be very grateful, if my request is granted.

Yours faithfully,

Ajawara Chidimma

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained the situation regarding your sister's accident, stated your intention to take a break and resume next term, and requested advice on the process. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter. However, the development of ideas is slightly repetitive; for instance, you mention the need for assistance and the impact on your studies in a way that feels a bit circular. To reach a higher band, ensure each bullet point is distinct and fully developed without repeating the same justification. Overall, the purpose of the letter is clear and the requirements are met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the explanation of the situation to the request for action. Paragraphing is present, though the letter is quite short, which makes the structure feel a bit compressed. You use some cohesive devices like 'In addition' and 'however', but the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition from the accident details to the request for an exemption letter is a bit abrupt. Using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would improve the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task, using terms like 'exemption', 'hospitalised', 'facilitate', and 'trauma'. These are appropriate for a formal context. There are no significant spelling errors, and the word choices generally convey your meaning accurately. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions that fit a formal register. While your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate your needs clearly, it lacks the flexibility and precision required for the higher bands. Focus on using more varied verbs and adjectives to describe your situation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some minor grammatical issues, such as the run-on sentence in the first paragraph ('...hospitalised therefore she would require...') and the comma splice in the final paragraph ('...hearing from you, I would be...'). Additionally, the phrase 'so resume next term' is grammatically incomplete. While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading, particularly regarding punctuation and sentence boundaries. Increasing your control over complex sentence structures and ensuring correct subject-verb agreement will help you achieve a higher score.

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

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