Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-22

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 8.5)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to request the cancellation of my booking for the part-time English language course that I recently enrolled in at your college. The course is scheduled to begin next month, and I was looking forward to attending it.

Unfortunately, due to an unexpected change in my work schedule, I will no longer be able to attend the classes at the scheduled time. My working hours have recently been changed to evenings, which conflicts with the timetable of the English course. Therefore, I would be grateful if you could cancel my current booking and let me know whether I am eligible for a refund of the course fee.

However, I am still interested in improving my English and would like to continue studying at your college. Could you please provide me with information about any part-time English courses that are available during the daytime or at weekends? I would also appreciate it if you could explain how I can transfer my booking to a more suitable course.

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

Yours faithfully,

Sanam B.k

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly identify the course booked, provide a logical and coherent explanation for the cancellation (work schedule change), and effectively inquire about alternative options. 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 to the task instructions. There are no omissions, and the letter maintains a professional standard throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: the introduction states the purpose, the second paragraph explains the situation, and the third paragraph makes the request for alternatives. Cohesive devices such as 'Unfortunately', 'Therefore', and 'However' are used naturally and effectively to link sentences and ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal letter. Phrases such as 'enrolled in', 'conflicts with the timetable', and 'eligible for a refund' are used accurately and naturally. The language is precise and fits the context of a formal request well. While the vocabulary is not overly complex, it is highly effective and demonstrates a strong command of English for this specific task type. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response exhibits a high level of grammatical accuracy. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences like 'I would be grateful if you could cancel my current booking and let me know whether I am eligible for a refund'. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical errors that impede communication. The control over verb tenses and modal verbs is consistent and accurate, reflecting a strong grasp of English grammar.

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

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