Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-10-09
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 5.5)
Hello Miss,
I am writing to seek advice regarding my evening course, political science. I would like to take the course in the next semester instead.
My current syllabus except the political science is more strentous. I am exhausted after regular college hours, making it difficult to concentrate in the evening. Hence, I cannot continue the enrolled course this term.
As I mentioned above, syllabus is quite difficult to cope up. So, I would like to enroll in extra classes for the same subject.
Therefore, I need advice about how can I navigate this situation.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
You identify the main situation, explain that your other studies leave you exhausted, and state that you want to take political science next semester. You also ask for advice, so the key points are present. However, the response addresses the task only partially because the explanation and proposed study plan are very brief, and the request for advice is not specific. The sentence about enrolling in extra classes is also unclear: it is not evident whether you want extra classes now or instead of the evening course next term. The response is 55 words below the required minimum, which limits how fully you can explain your circumstances and request. Add details about your workload and ask what options are available, such as deferring or transferring your enrolment.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The letter follows a generally understandable sequence: you introduce the course, explain the difficulty, state a possible plan, and ask for advice. Linking expressions such as “Hence” and “Therefore” help show relationships between ideas. However, the progression is quite compressed, and “As I mentioned above” repeats the earlier point rather than developing it. The relationship between taking the course next semester and enrolling in extra classes is not clearly signposted, so the reader may be unsure what action you are proposing. Use separate paragraphs for the situation, your preferred arrangement, and your request, and connect them with clear references such as “For this reason” or “In the next term.”
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use relevant vocabulary for the situation, including “seek advice,” “evening course,” “semester,” and “concentrate,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There are, however, noticeable spelling and word-choice or collocation problems. “Strentous” is misspelled, while “my current syllabus except the political science is more strenuous” does not clearly express that your other coursework is demanding. “Cope up” is not the natural expression here; use “cope with” or “keep up with.” “Navigate this situation” is understandable but vague for a formal request. Aim for precise phrases such as “my other coursework is demanding” and “defer my enrolment,” which would make your circumstances and preferred solution clearer.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0
You use a mix of simple sentences and a more complex construction, as in “I am exhausted after regular college hours, making it difficult to concentrate in the evening.” Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, and the errors do not seriously obstruct understanding. Some grammatical issues remain: “the course in the next semester” would more naturally be “the course next semester,” and “how can I navigate this situation” uses question word order inside an indirect question; write “how I can manage this situation.” The sentence beginning “My current syllabus…” is also difficult to follow because its structure does not clearly show the relationship between your other subjects and political science. Practise indirect questions and build clearer clauses to improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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