Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-10-14

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)

I have been enrolled in an evening course for a 1 month certificate however i can't proceed in that course at late times due to a time overlapping with my job.

My friend that works in the night shift is encountering some personal issues and familial circumstances and i have to take his place until he comes back to take his position and that's because all our colleagues can't work at night for several reason one of them is that they are new to this job and can't manage night stress and lonely work .

For this reason i suggested to the course coordinator to change my enrollment to the day time but he told me that there no more places and my situation can't be fixed at that time .

I am writing this to inquire from the readers some advice to fix my situation and proceed in this course .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You explain the main reason you cannot attend: your work schedule has changed because you are covering a colleague’s night shift. You also mention asking the coordinator to transfer you to a daytime class, which addresses a possible study arrangement. However, the request to take the course next term is not stated clearly, and the final request for advice is vague: “some advice to fix my situation” does not specify what guidance you need. The explanation of colleagues’ difficulties takes up space without clarifying how long you must cover the shift or what outcome you are seeking. Make the next-term request explicit and ask the coordinator directly about deferring your enrolment and any steps required.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter follows a broadly understandable sequence: you introduce the course, explain the work conflict, describe the unsuccessful attempt to change class times, and finish by asking for advice. Linking phrases such as “For this reason” help show the relationship between events. However, most information is placed in one long paragraph, and the second sentence contains several ideas joined together, making the explanation harder to follow. The final sentence also shifts to “the readers,” although the letter is directed to a course coordinator. Use separate paragraphs for the situation, your preferred arrangement, and your request, and connect each point with clear, accurate references.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for explaining the situation, including “enrolled,” “course coordinator,” “night shift,” and “personal issues.” These choices make the general circumstances understandable. However, several phrases are imprecise or unnatural, such as “proceed in that course at late times,” “time overlapping with my job,” and “change my enrollment to the day time.” “Night stress and lonely work” is also unclear in this context. Aim for more natural collocations and precise wording so the reader can understand the work arrangement and your request without having to interpret them. For example, describe a clash with your work schedule and ask to defer your place until the next term.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt to combine ideas using clauses and conjunctions, as in “because” and “until,” and the overall meaning can generally be followed. However, sentence structures are often overloaded, particularly the long sentence beginning “My friend that works in the night shift,” which contains several clauses without clear punctuation. There are also errors in articles and sentence construction, including “there no more places” and “for several reason.” Capitalisation and punctuation need attention, too: “i” should be “I,” and the opening sentence would be clearer if divided into shorter sentences. Practise accurate complex sentences, but prioritise clear clause boundaries and checking basic agreement, articles, and plurals.

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