User-written IELTS example

Writing General Training Task 1 Band 8.0 Example

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

215 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

Review the public answer with report-style highlights.

Band 8.0

Dear Ms. McKeen, My name is Leo Smith and I am a first-year student in your Marketing class at Capilano College. I am writing to you because I have a problem with the project you set about social media. The due date was last week but I’m afraid I haven’t finished it yet. As you know, the project involves researching how social media is used in marketing. I underestimated how much time I would need to organise the material and complete the final analysis. I take responsibility for this delay and should have asked for advice before the deadline.

Most of the research is now done, and I have prepared an outline of the report. However, I still need to finish the discussion and check that all my references are accurate. Would it be possible to have an additional week to submit the completed project? I am confident that I can finish the remaining sections within that time.

I would be happy to send you my notes and current draft so that you can see the progress I have made. Please let me know if I should complete a formal extension form or arrange a short meeting with you.

Thank you for considering my request, and I apologise for the inconvenience.

Yours sincerely, Leo Smith

Targeted Improvement Tips

Check that each of the three requested letter points has a specific, easily located explanation.

Revise the exact phrases quoted in the corrections, then proofread the whole sentence around each one.

Keep the greeting, level of formality and closing appropriate for the named recipient.

AI Feedback

Overall Band

8.0

Excellent

Words

215

Type

Letter

Criteria Breakdown

Task Achievement

7.5 Band

The letter identifies the student, class and project, admits a planning error and requests a specific extension. The current draft offer supports the request. “As you know” presumes shared knowledge unnecessarily, and “a problem” is vague. State the cause directly while preserving the responsible, courteous tone.

Coherence & Cohesion

7.5 Band

The completed letter uses paragraphs to separate the background, explanation and requested next step. The introductory wording “I have a problem with the project you set about social media” can be made more direct, leaving room for the required details. Keep the sequence purposeful and place the practical request where the recipient can find it easily. Avoid adding unrelated personal information merely to lengthen the response.

Lexical Resource

7.0 Band

The wording “I have a problem with the project you set about social media” is a useful place to improve precision. The replacement states the concrete issue instead of a vague problem. The remaining letter uses vocabulary connected to its actual purpose, rather than an unrelated memorised phrase bank. Read the revised expression in context and check that it keeps the intended meaning, names and circumstances.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

7.5 Band

The expression “I’m afraid I haven’t finished it yet” illustrates the main sentence-level point in this draft. An optional slightly more formal alternative for a lecturer. Check that the corrected sentence has a clear subject, finite verb and suitable time reference. Retain the natural tone of the letter instead of introducing long constructions that make the request harder to follow.

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 8.0 Example

Plan your answer

Ideas to explore

Suggested structure

Task Prompt

User Essay Analysis

Targeted Improvement Tips

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