Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-21

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 or Madam,

I am writing to request a cancellation on the part-time course I booked for the upcoming semester (Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning).

I had graduated from the mechanical engineering program last winter and to further advance my studies I decided to opt for Heating, Ventilation, and Air conditioning (HVAC). Given the ample job opportunities in the field, I wanted to specialize in refrigeration engineering and equipment.

However, after taking detailed career counselling, I was suggested to pivot from my decision and go for Industrial Millwright course. It precisely aligns with my bachelor studies background and to the professional experience I have gained during the internship program as a maintenance technician.

In order to get admission in the Industrial Millwright course, I am requesting to provide me with the course availability dates, fees, and other details. I am willing to wait for the fall semester if the seats are not available in the spring semester.

I hope you would consider my appeal and am looking forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Nishant Shrivastava

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly identified the course booked, provided a logical and detailed explanation for the cancellation, and effectively inquired about an alternative course. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a college administrator. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, ensuring the reader understands your situation and your request without ambiguity. The letter follows the required structure and maintains a professional stance throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph serving a clear purpose. You use appropriate paragraphing to separate the introduction, the explanation, the request, and the closing. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'In order to', and 'Given the' are used effectively to link ideas. The progression of information is smooth, moving from the current situation to the reason for change and finally to the specific request for information. The flow is natural and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal context, such as 'pivot', 'aligns', 'specialise', and 'upcoming semester'. The language is precise and fits the professional tone required for this task. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, incorporating a few more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions could further enhance the lexical variety, but the current range is more than sufficient for this task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a variety of complex sentence structures effectively, such as 'Given the ample job opportunities in the field, I wanted to...' and 'I am willing to wait for the fall semester if the seats are not available...'. The grammar is generally accurate, with only minor slips, such as 'I was suggested to pivot' (a more natural phrasing would be 'it was suggested that I pivot' or 'I was advised to pivot'). Punctuation is used correctly, and the overall control of grammar is strong.

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

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