Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-10-05

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 5.0)

dear sir/ madam

i hope you are doing great. i am writing this letter to you because i cannnot enrolled in an evening course. i know that this course can be very useful in my future but due to the hectic schedule and responsbilities, i cannot take this course. i remember that when i enrolled in this course i had a lots of free time when i usually spent on this course so that i could get a good score but nowadays i do not have a much spare time to invest on this course.

i apologize that you waste your time to complete all the requirements about this course but i will be very happy if you give me a good advice so that i can start this course in my next term and i promise that i will do my best.

thanks & regards

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response addresses the prompt only partially, and importantly, it falls short of the minimum word count requirement, containing 146 words instead of the required 150. While the writer manages to explain the situation regarding their busy schedule and asks for advice about the course next term, the ideas remain limited and under-developed. For instance, the explanation of why they cannot continue lacks specific detail regarding the nature of their hectic schedule or responsibilities. The tone is somewhat inconsistent for a formal letter, and the purpose of the communication is partially obscured by imprecise phrasing. To move towards a higher band, the writer must fully develop all parts of the task with extended explanations, ensure the letter is appropriately structured and extended, and strictly meet the minimum length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The text demonstrates some organisation, but there is no clear overall progression of ideas. The letter is broken into basic blocks of text rather than well-defined paragraphs, and formatting conventions such as capitalization and spacing are poorly managed. Cohesive devices are inadequate or repetitive; for example, the heavy reliance on basic connectors like 'so' and 'because' creates a mechanical flow. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the pronoun use in 'when i usually spent on this course'. To improve coherence and cohesion, the writer should group related ideas into distinct paragraphs, use a wider and more accurate range of cohesive devices to link ideas smoothly, and ensure a logical progression from the opening purpose through to the concluding request for advice.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and minimally adequate for the task, with noticeable errors that occasionally cause difficulty for the reader. The student attempts some vocabulary related to studies, but encounters issues with word formation and spelling, such as writing 'cannnot' and 'responsbilities'. There are also awkward word choices and unnatural collocations, such as 'waste your time to complete all the requirements' and 'give me a good advice' (since 'advice' is uncountable). To achieve a higher band, the writer needs to expand their lexical repertoire, incorporate less common vocabulary with greater precision regarding style and collocation, and eliminate basic spelling and word choice errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writing displays a limited range of structures, relying mostly on repetitive clause patterns. When the student attempts complex sentences, they are often faulty, featuring frequent errors in verb forms, tenses, and agreement, such as 'i cannnot enrolled' and 'i do not have a much spare time'. Punctuation and capitalization are largely neglected throughout the response, with sentences starting in lowercase and lacking standard formal letter formatting. To reach a higher level, the writer must demonstrate greater control over simple and complex sentence forms, reduce the frequency of grammatical errors, and pay closer attention to standard punctuation and verb complementation patterns.

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

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