Band 6
A real candidate answer at Band 6, with every examiner correction marked on it. 10 corrections.
Band 6 answers communicate clearly. What holds them at 6 rather than 7 is usually consistency: the good sentences are good, and the weak ones are still frequent.
This is the band where progress feels slowest, because the obvious errors are gone and what remains is harder to see without someone pointing at it.
Click any highlighted word to see the correction. The commentary at the foot of the page explains what holds the answer at this band overall.
The task
Note the three bullet points and who the letter is addressed to.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You have enrolled in an evening course but you have found that you are too busy to continue and would like to take the course next term instead.
Write a letter to your teacher. In your letter:
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear………………………
The answer
Reproduced exactly as written, errors included.
Dear Mr. Smith
I am writing regarding the management course that I have been attending at your institute . I need to say that, unfortunately, due to my involvement in an urgent task at my work, I will not be able to continue my classes during the coming period.
As you are aware, I am working as a project manager in a construction compay. A new contract has been awarded to our company, and I have been given this project a tight time frame. this situation, I will have to hours at my office to ensure that the work progresses satisfactorily.
However, I am still interested in completing the management couse, I would prefer to reschedule it to the next term when I will have completed my new project and can spare enough time for studying. I appreciate it if you could direct me to the appropriate action that I have to take in order to arrange for postponing my course.
I thank you in advance for your assistance.
Kindest regards
Matt Davison
(188 words)
Examiner comments
The overall verdict, criterion by criterion.
Despite some good language, the writer has overused certain vocabulary ('management' 3 times in the introduction alone) and this has reduced the result.
Some sentences are overly complicated and the meaning is a little unclear at times ('I would appreciate it if you could direct me to the appropriate action that I have to take in order to arrange for postponing my course').
There are grammar errors in some of the more advanced sentences ('I will appreciate it if you would').
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