Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-12

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 9.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to request the cancellation of my booking for the part-time Advanced Business English course, which I was due to commence next month.

Unfortunately, I have recently been offered additional responsibilities at work, and my new schedule will require me to work extended hours on several weekdays. As a result, I will no longer be able to attend the classes regularly. Although I had been looking forward to taking the course, I believe cancelling my place is the most appropriate option rather than risking frequent absences.

However, I remain keen to improve my English and would appreciate it if you could advise me about alternative courses that are compatible with a demanding work schedule. In particular, I would be interested in an evening or weekend course covering a similar level of material. Could you please let me know whether such courses are currently available and whether my existing booking fee could be transferred to one of them?

I would be grateful if you could confirm the cancellation and let me know what options are available for transferring my enrolment.

Thank you for your assistance. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Gagandeep Singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You clearly identified the course (Advanced Business English), provided a logical reason for cancellation (work responsibilities), and effectively inquired about alternative options and fee transfers. The tone is consistently formal and appropriate for a letter to an administrator. The purpose of the letter is clear from the outset, and the ideas are well-developed and relevant throughout. You have successfully met all the requirements of the prompt, maintaining a professional and polite tone throughout the correspondence.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the statement of intent to the explanation, the inquiry, and finally the closing. Cohesive devices such as 'Unfortunately', 'As a result', 'However', and 'In particular' are used naturally and effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is coherent, making the letter easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words; the flow is smooth and professional.

Lexical Resource — Band 9.0

You demonstrate a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary that is highly appropriate for a formal letter. Phrases such as 'due to commence', 'extended hours', 'compatible with a demanding work schedule', and 'transferring my enrolment' show a high level of lexical control and precision. The word choices are natural and contribute to the professional tone of the letter. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary is used with flexibility to convey specific meanings accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The writing exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with full flexibility and accuracy. You have used complex sentence structures, such as conditional and relative clauses, correctly and naturally. For example, 'I would be grateful if you could confirm...' and '...whether my existing booking fee could be transferred...' are grammatically sound and sophisticated. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no errors in tense or agreement. The control over grammar is excellent, and the writing is error-free.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.