Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-09-16

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 to you regarding I want to continue the bakery course in the next term. My name is Lovepreet Kaur and I am in an intermidiate bakery course in the evening batch. My final exams of my master degree will starting from next month. So, I donot have time to continue this course as I am spending my evenings for study.

As I know I am participating in the local compitetion for bakery after 2 months. I would like make some dishes at home in my free time while studing. I will not only search about the new recipes but only make it using my innovation. Once my exams will completed , I would like to take the course next term (next month).

I would be very appriciated that if you can give me some suggestions about this situation and hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks and regards,

Lovepreet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all three bullet points from the prompt effectively. You clearly explain the situation, stating that you are enrolled in an intermediate bakery course in the evening batch and need to defer due to upcoming master degree final exams starting next month. You also clearly state your intention to take the course next term, and you ask for advice regarding the situation by requesting suggestions. The tone is mostly appropriate for a formal letter to an educational institution, although there are some slightly confusing personal anecdotes included about a local competition. Overall, all parts of the task are addressed adequately, and a Band 6.0 is appropriate as the ideas are relevant despite some minor tangents.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter has a coherent overall structure and uses appropriate standard letter openings and closings, such as 'Dear Sir or Madam' and 'Thanks and regards'. Ideas are generally sequenced logically from explaining the problem to stating what you want to do and asking for advice. However, paragraphing is somewhat weak, with a large block of text in the middle that combines multiple ideas. Cohesive devices are occasionally used, but referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the sentence 'As I know I am participating...', which disrupts the smooth progression of ideas. Therefore, a Band 6.0 reflects this level of organisation.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'intermediate', 'bakery course', and 'evening batch'. However, there are notable spelling errors ('intermidiate', 'compitetion', 'appriciated') and awkward word choices ('my final exams of my master degree will starting', 'only make it using my innovation'). These lexical inaccuracies indicate a limited control over less common vocabulary and spelling, though they do not completely impede communication. This performance aligns well with the Band 5.5 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response includes a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but it is marred by frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'regarding I want to continue', 'will starting from next month', 'donot have time', and 'Once my exams will completed'. The misuse of tense structures ('will starting', 'will completed') and prepositions demonstrates limited control over complex grammar. While communication is still mostly achieved, the frequency of errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. A score of 5.0 reflects these persistent structural inaccuracies.

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

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