User-written IELTS example

Writing General Training Task 1 Band 9.0 Example

Original task prompt, user essay, band score, and related examples in the same report workspace.

210 words General TrainingTask 1Letter

Task 1 Letter

Illustrative target band for this original model answer.

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Ideas to explore

Explain a specific, credible reason for missing the deadline, such as underestimating the research and organisation required.
Show what work is already complete and what remains, so the lecturer can see that the requested extra time has a clear purpose.
Acknowledge the course policy and ask about any required process, while keeping the tone respectful and accountable.

Suggested structure

Open with a greeting and identify yourself and your course.
State the missed deadline and apologise briefly.
Explain why the project is unfinished and describe your progress.
Request a specific extension and give a clear submission plan.
Ask about any procedure, thank the lecturer, and close formally.

Useful vocabulary & examples

grant an extension: allow extra time to complete or submit work
I would be grateful if you could grant me an extension of one week.
underestimate the time required: misjudge how long a task will take
I underestimated the time required to research the topic and organise the evidence.
subject to the course policy: dependent on the rules that apply to the course
I understand that late work may be subject to the course policy.
follow a procedure: complete the steps required by an organisation
Please let me know if there is a form or procedure I should follow.

Task Prompt

You are taking a course at a local college. The deadline for your project was last week but you haven’t finished it. Write a letter to your lecturer. In your letter • introduce yourself • explain why you haven’t handed in the project yet • request more time to do it.

User Essay Analysis

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Band 9.0

Dear Sir/Madam, I hope this message finds you well. My name is Anjali, and I am a student enrolled in your course, with student number #1234. I am writing to request an extension for submitting my project, which was originally due last week. Unfortunately, I was unable to complete the project on time due to an unexpected family emergency that required my immediate attention. This disrupted my study schedule and left me with insufficient time to finish the research and prepare the final report to the standard I expect. I understand that meeting deadlines is important, and I am sorry that I did not contact you sooner. The emergency has now been dealt with, and I have returned to the project. I have completed most of the research, but I still need to analyse my findings, check the references and proofread the final draft. Would you be willing to grant me an additional two weeks to submit it? I will use this time to complete the remaining work carefully and can send you a brief progress update if that would be helpful. Please let me know whether this extension is possible or if I should complete any formal request form. Thank you for considering my request.

Yours sincerely, Anjali

Targeted Improvement Tips

If you know the date you can meet, replace “an additional two weeks” with a specific submission date so the lecturer can assess the request immediately.

Keep the explanation concise, then link it to your plan: state what remains to be done and how the extra time will help you finish it.

Read the letter aloud once and check that each paragraph performs one job: introduction and purpose, explanation and progress, request and closing.

AI Feedback

Overall Band

9.0

Excellent

Words

210

Type

Letter

Criteria Breakdown

Task Achievement

8.0 Band

The letter covers all three requested points: “My name is Anjali” introduces the writer, the “unexpected family emergency” explains the delay, and “an additional two weeks” makes a clear request. It also acknowledges the missed deadline and offers a progress update, which supports a responsible tone. To make the request even more actionable, specify a calendar date for submission if one is known.

Coherence & Cohesion

8.0 Band

The information follows a logical sequence: identification and purpose, reason for the delay, current progress, then the extension request and closing. Phrases such as “As a result” are not needed because the cause-and-effect relationship is already clear in “This disrupted my study schedule.” For an even smoother letter, connect the update about returning to the project directly to the list of remaining tasks.

Lexical Resource

8.0 Band

The wording is appropriately formal and precise in phrases such as “prepare the final report,” “analyse my findings” and “formal request form.” The vocabulary describes both the circumstance and the work still required without becoming overly elaborate. One optional refinement is to replace “the emergency has now been dealt with,” which is slightly vague, with a concise statement that the circumstances have improved, while keeping the explanation private.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

8.5 Band

The completed letter uses accurate sentence structures, including the relative clause in “my project, which was originally due last week” and the conditional question “Would you be willing to grant me…?” Verb forms and tense choices consistently distinguish the missed deadline from current progress and future plans. A small refinement would be to vary the repeated subject-led sentence openings in the middle, although they are grammatically sound.

Topic Band Distribution

Band 9.03 examples

Band 8.03 examples

Band 7.03 examples

Band 6.03 examples

Band 5.03 examples

Band 4.03 examples

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Writing General Training Task 1 Band 9.0 Example

Plan your answer

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Suggested structure

Task Prompt

User Essay Analysis

Targeted Improvement Tips

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