Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-11

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You recently booked a part-time course at a college. You now need to cancel your booking.

Write a letter to the college administrator. In your letter:

• say which part-time course you booked
• explain why you need to cancel your booking
• ask about booking a different course

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 7.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

My name is Navpreet Kaur and I am writing this letter to inform you that due to some personal reasons I have to cancel my booking for the upcoming part-time course in Food and Nutrition management.

My father is an army officer and he got posted in other city i.e, Kashmir. Therefore, whole family is moving there. This course is in-person and I cannot attend the classes. Hence, I decided to cancel my reservation.

I am wondering, if there is any online course available related to Food or Nutrition. If yes, then I would like to book that course because I can attend zoom classes while living in other city. I never ever thought about withdrawing my application for this part-time course but currently my circumstances are not allowing me to be the part of this amazing course.

I hope there will be an online course in the same stream that can help me to enhance my knowledge.

Waiting for your response.

Yours Sincerely,

Navpreet Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The letter covers all three required points clearly: you identify the Food and Nutrition management course, explain that your family is moving because your father has been posted to Kashmir, and ask about booking an online alternative. The reason for cancelling is relevant and sufficiently explained, while the request to change courses is supported by your explanation that you could attend online classes from another city. The polite opening and closing also suit a formal letter. To make the response even more complete, specify whether you want the college to transfer your existing booking or advise you about enrolment and any fees. Overall, the purpose is clear and the ideas are well developed, with only a small practical detail left open.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information follows a clear sequence: you state the purpose, explain the circumstances, ask about an online course, and close by requesting a response. Paragraphing helps distinguish these stages, and linking expressions such as “Therefore” and “Hence” make the cause-and-effect relationship easy to follow. The progression is logical throughout. Some connections are slightly repetitive, however: “Therefore” and “Hence” both introduce the consequence of the move, and the final two paragraphs repeat the hope of finding an online course. You could combine the request and its benefit into one concise paragraph, then finish with a direct request for information. This would make cohesion more flexible and less reliant on repeated transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a formal cancellation letter, including “cancel my booking,” “posted,” “withdrawing my application,” and “enhance my knowledge.” These choices communicate the situation clearly, and the reader can understand your request without difficulty. There are some imprecise or unnatural expressions that limit the flexibility and precision of the vocabulary, such as “in other city,” “same stream,” and “be the part of this amazing course.” “Reservation” is also less natural than “booking” in this context. Aim for more idiomatic collocations and a consistently formal tone; for example, describe the course as “in the same subject area” and say you are “unable to attend in person.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The letter includes both simple and complex sentence forms, such as “My father is an army officer and he got posted…” and “I never ever thought about withdrawing my application… but currently my circumstances are not allowing me…”. The meaning remains clear, and the errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your circumstances or request. Some grammatical and punctuation issues remain. In “I am wondering, if there is…,” the comma is unnecessary; “in other city” needs an article; and “my circumstances are not allowing me to be the part” has awkward tense and article use. The sentence beginning “My father…” would also be more controlled as “My father, an army officer, has been posted to another city.” More consistent accuracy in these patterns would strengthen the range you already attempt.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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