Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-10-27

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 4.0)

dear sir,

i am writing to inform you that i am unable to continue my evening course this trem due to my busy work schedule.i would like to request permission to postpone my studies until the next term.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

You identify the central situation: you cannot continue the evening course this term because of your work schedule, and you would like to postpone your studies until the next term. However, the response is far too brief to address the task adequately and does not include two required elements: you do not explain your circumstances in any detail or ask the course provider for advice about your options. The request for permission is relevant, but it is not developed into a complete letter. To improve, explain what has changed in your work commitments, state clearly what you hope will happen to your enrolment, and ask whether there are procedures or alternatives you should consider. Include all three bullet points and develop each one.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The message has a basic, understandable order: it opens with the reason for writing, gives a brief explanation, and then states the request to postpone. The ideas are connected through the phrase “due to,” so the relationship between your work schedule and your inability to continue is clear. However, the response is only two sentences and has no developed letter structure, such as a suitable opening, separate explanation and request, and closing. The full stop after “schedule” is also missing a following space, which makes the sentences run together visually. Organise the letter into short paragraphs and use clear transitions to guide the reader through the situation, your preferred plan, and your request for advice.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the purpose, including “evening course,” “work schedule,” “postpone,” and “next term,” and the intended meaning is generally clear. The range is very limited, however, because the short response relies on a few basic expressions and does not describe the circumstances or the advice you need. There is also a spelling error in “trem,” which should be “term,” and “busy work schedule” is understandable but could be expressed more precisely. Build a wider set of formal phrases for explaining a change in circumstances and asking about enrolment options. For example, you could refer to increased work commitments and ask about deferring your place or transferring your enrolment.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The two sentences communicate the main point, and the clause “that i am unable to continue” is a clear attempt to explain your situation within a longer sentence. However, the response uses a very narrow range of sentence structures, with no developed questions or additional clauses to express the requested advice. Capitalisation and punctuation also need attention: begin “Dear Sir” and “I” with capital letters, and add a space after the full stop in “schedule.i.” The sentence beginning “I am writing to inform you” is a useful formal structure, but you should practise combining it with accurate explanations and polite questions, such as asking whether you may defer your studies until the next term.

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

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