User-written IELTS example

Writing General Training Task 1 Band 6.0 Example

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

213 words General TrainingTask 1Letter

Task 1 Letter

Illustrative target band for this original model answer.

Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

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 6.0

Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing in regard to the deadline set for our project submission. My name is Annabel Smith, and I am a 400 level Nursing student. I am the student who assisted you in taking your bag to class on Monday last week. On Monday after lectures, I was on my way to the library when I had to return home unexpectedly to help my family with an urgent matter. This situation took up much of my time, and I was unable to finish the project by last week's deadline. I apologise for not contacting you sooner; I should have let you know as soon as I realised that I would need more time. Would it be possible to grant me an extension of one week, until next Monday? I have completed the background research and most of the draft. With the extra time, I will finish the remaining sections, check my references and submit the completed project. I understand that late work may affect my grade, and I will follow the course requirements. Thank you for considering my request. I would be grateful for your understanding. Please let me know if you need any further information or would like to discuss this after class.

Yours sincerely, Annabel Smith

Targeted Improvement Tips

If you know the date of the requested new deadline, name it explicitly rather than relying only on “next Monday.”

Keep the explanation concise, but add one relevant detail about the urgent family matter if you are comfortable doing so.

Before submitting, check compound modifiers such as “400-level” and confirm that the apology, reason and request form a clear sequence.

AI Feedback

Overall Band

6.0

Competent

Words

213

Type

Letter

Criteria Breakdown

Task Achievement

7.0 Band

The letter addresses the three requested points: it introduces Annabel, explains the delay with “I had to return home unexpectedly to help my family with an urgent matter,” and asks for “an extension of one week, until next Monday.” It also acknowledges the late notice and outlines a plan for finishing. To strengthen the request further, specify a calendar date for the proposed deadline if one is known.

Coherence & Cohesion

7.0 Band

The sequence is easy to follow: the opening identifies the writer and deadline, the middle explains the circumstances, and the final paragraphs make the request and close politely. The link “With the extra time” clearly connects the extension to the completion plan. One small refinement would be to group the apology more closely with the explanation, so the reason and responsibility for late contact read as one continuous point.

Lexical Resource

6.0 Band

The answer uses suitable formal expressions such as “grant me an extension,” “completed the background research,” and “course requirements.” These make the request clear without sounding demanding. Some wording is familiar and slightly broad, particularly “urgent matter” and “help my family,” so the reason remains general. If appropriate, briefly name the type of difficulty without adding unnecessary personal detail; also consider the optional compound hyphen in “400 level.”

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

6.5 Band

Most sentences are complete and grammatically controlled, including the longer sentence beginning “On Monday after lectures,” which clearly links the timing and consequence. The answer uses a mix of simple and complex structures, with accurate conditional phrasing in “Would it be possible…?” The phrase “a 400 level Nursing student” is understandable, though “a 400-level Nursing student” is the more conventional compound form. A final check for compound modifiers would polish the letter.

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

Practice this prompt

Use the same topic in Hack Admission AI and compare your answer with this example.

Check your answer on this topic Browse all examples