User-written IELTS example

Writing General Training Task 1 Band 5.0 Example

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

209 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 5.0

Dear professor, My name is Ronit Sukheja and I am a first-year student started my course on Sept 1, 2024. I am writing regarding my mistake of not submitting the project due last week. I was not in a correct mental state from last whole month due to which I was not able to pay attention to my studies. This affected my ability to concentrate and work on the project. I also had some personal matters to deal with, and I found it difficult to organise my time and complete the research and writing by the deadline. I understand that it was my responsibility to inform you earlier, and I sincerely apologise for not contacting you.

Could I please have an extension of two weeks? I will use this extra time to complete the remaining research, finish writing the project, and proofread it before I submit it. Please let me know if you need any documentation or would prefer me to follow a different submission date. I value this course and will make every effort to submit work that meets the requirements.

Thank you for considering my request. I apologise again for the delay and hope you will be able to grant me this extension.

Yours sincerely, Ronit Sukheja

Targeted Improvement Tips

Correct the opening sentence by connecting “I am a first-year student” and “I started my course” with “and,” while preserving the date.

Replace “from last whole month” with a natural duration phrase, then read the sentence aloud to check that the cause-and-effect link is clear.

Keep the extension request specific and follow it with a short completion plan, as in the two-week request and proofreading schedule.

AI Feedback

Overall Band

5.0

Modest

Words

209

Type

Letter

Criteria Breakdown

Task Achievement

6.0 Band

The letter covers the main points: it introduces Ronit, explains the late submission through difficulties with mental health and personal matters, and asks, “Could I please have an extension of two weeks?” The apology and plan to finish the work make the request relevant and courteous. The explanation remains fairly broad, however. Next, briefly clarify how the difficulties affected progress, while sharing only details you are comfortable disclosing.

Coherence & Cohesion

6.0 Band

The ideas follow a useful sequence: introduction and apology, reasons for the delay, extension request, then a closing. The sentence “I will use this extra time to complete the remaining research, finish writing the project, and proofread it” also gives the reader a clear plan. The first paragraph is dense and contains several points. Use separate paragraphs for the explanation, request, and closing to make the letter easier to scan.

Lexical Resource

5.0 Band

The answer uses appropriate formal expressions such as “I sincerely apologise” and “Thank you for considering my request,” and vocabulary like “proofread” is specific to the project context. Some wording in the preserved opening is unnatural, particularly “in a correct mental state” and “from last whole month.” Replace these with conventional collocations—for example, “in the right frame of mind” and “for the whole of last month”—while keeping the explanation clear and respectful.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

5.0 Band

The completed letter includes clear sentences such as “I also had some personal matters to deal with,” and the later request is grammatically controlled. Errors in the preserved opening limit accuracy: “I am a first-year student started my course” joins two clauses without a suitable connector, and “from last whole month” has an incorrect time expression. Review sentence boundaries and past-to-present time phrases, then proofread the opening especially carefully.

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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