Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-27

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 8.0)

Dear Sir,

I would like to inform you that, I have currently enrolled in one of your part time summer course of Bookkeeping - Advanced level (12201) for a length of 6 months starting from September 2026 - March 2027 in Seneca college located at Finch avenue.

However, I would like to cancel my course, as my leave from work got refused. Due to the increasing workload in my organization, my employer is finding it challenging to look for a substitute. Hence, I am being requested by my employer to cancel the course, otherwise, my job would be at risk.

I understand, that since, I paid my fees, which reserved my spot, and sudden last minute change would cause a substantial trouble at your end. Hence, I would request you to book another suitable course for me anytime after April 2027. This will not only give me enough time to my employer but it will also enable me to structure my plan ahead of time.

I apologize for any inconvenience caused at your end.

Regards,

Shaheen

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points: identifying the course, explaining the reason for cancellation (work commitments), and requesting a future booking. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to an administrator. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the communication is clear from the outset. The response is fully relevant to the prompt, and the student maintains a consistent position throughout the letter, ensuring the reader understands the request and the context behind it.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the introduction of the issue to the explanation and finally the request. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Hence', and 'not only... but it will also' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the flow of information is smooth, making the letter easy to follow for the reader.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses formal language such as 'enrolled', 'substitute', and 'inconvenience' correctly. There are some minor awkward phrasings, such as 'substantial trouble at your end' (better as 'inconvenience') and 'structure my plan', but these do not impede communication. The range is adequate to express the necessary information clearly and professionally, demonstrating a good grasp of formal register.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a good control of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional and relative clauses. While there are some minor errors, such as unnecessary commas (e.g., 'inform you that, I have') and slight prepositional issues ('in Seneca college' instead of 'at'), these are non-systematic and do not interfere with meaning. The majority of the sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is generally functional, supporting the formal tone of the letter.

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