Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-01

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)

Good morning,

I am writing to request cancellation for a recent course that is starting next month. I had paid for a part-time office administration course, which is supposed to start on August 30, 2026. The course number is A234AZ, and I booked the evening classes on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. I am attaching the enrollement letter for your ease of reference.

Unfortunately, I have to leave the country due to some unforeseen circumstances and will not return until early winters. Due to this sudden change in my plan, I do not think I will be able to attend the scheduled classes. I am aware that the returns are only eligible for full-time students and that is why I would request you to defer me to the acting course that will be starting in the New Year.

I would appreciate it if you could let me know how I can transfer my funds for the acting course mentioned above and if I am allowed to book the classes in advance. I will also be thankful if you could send me the further details of the various classes that the course offers.

I apologise for the inconvenience this may have caused. I will wait to hear back from your team.

Yours truly,

Lakshika

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly identified the course (office administration, A234AZ), provided a logical reason for cancellation (unforeseen circumstances requiring travel), and inquired about transferring to a future course. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to an administrator. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have fully satisfied the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the request to the explanation and finally the inquiry. You use cohesive devices such as 'Unfortunately', 'Due to this', and 'I would appreciate it if' effectively to link your sentences. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the flow of information is smooth and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal business context, such as 'unforeseen circumstances', 'ease of reference', and 'inconvenience'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as using 'acting course' when you likely meant 'upcoming' or 'next' course, and 'early winters' which is slightly unnatural phrasing. Despite these minor slips, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly and professionally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are error-free and clear. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'enrollement' (spelling error) and 'the returns are only eligible' (which should be 'refunds'). Additionally, 'defer me to the acting course' is slightly awkward phrasing. However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. Your control over punctuation and sentence structure is generally strong.

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