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.

217 words General TrainingTask 1Letter

Task 1 Letter

Illustrative target band for this original model answer.

Plan your 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 Sir or Madam, The reason why I am writing this letter is that I want to request to give me extra time to end my project. First of all, I want to introduce myself. I am Irina who has been living in Berlin for more than a decade. I study ay group 402 ay the local college. I am writing about the project which should have been submitted last week. I am sorry that it is still unfinished.

I had difficulty getting the material for the final section. Some information I needed was not available when I started, and I spent longer than expected checking other sources. I have finished most of the project, but I still need to complete the analysis and check the references. I should have told you about this problem before the deadline, and I understand that the delay causes inconvenience.

Could you please give me one more week to finish the work? I can send you the part I have completed now, so you can see my progress. I will use the extra time to finish the last section and make sure all the sources are included.

Thank you for considering my request. I will be grateful if you can let me know whether this extension is possible.

Yours faithfully, Irina

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

5.0

Modest

Words

217

Type

Letter

Criteria Breakdown

Task Achievement

6.0 Band

The completed letter identifies Irina and group 402, explains a research delay and requests one extra week. Living in Berlin is less useful to the lecturer than course details. State the missed deadline promptly and keep the apology specific. The original opening has grammatical problems, so a simpler request would improve both clarity and tone.

Coherence & Cohesion

5.5 Band

The completed letter uses paragraphs to separate the background, explanation and requested next step. The introductory wording “request to give me extra time to end my project” 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

5.0 Band

The wording “request to give me extra time to end my project” is a useful place to improve precision. Use a direct request construction and “complete” for academic work. 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

4.5 Band

The expression “I study ay group 402 ay” illustrates the main sentence-level point in this draft. The prepositions are misspelled and need to match the intended relationships. 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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