Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to inform you that I need to cancel my booking for the part-time Digital Marketing Certificate Course, which is due to commence next month.

Unfortunately, I have recently been assigned to a new project at work that requires me to work extended hours, including weekends. As a result. I will not be able to attend the evening classes regularly. Since, I believe consistent attendance is essential to benefit from the course, I feel it is better to withdraw now rather than occupy a place that another student could use.

However, I remain keen to enhance my professional skills and would like to enrol in a different course once my work schedule become less demanding. I noticed that our college offers an Analytics course with more flexible study hours. Could you please let me know whether there are any places available for the next intake? I would also appreciate it if you could advise me whether my current course fee can be transferred to the new programme or whether I need to submit a fresh application.

I apologise for any inconvenience this cancellation may cause and appreciate your understanding. I

Yours faithfully,

Navita Nandal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have fully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly identified the course (Digital Marketing Certificate), provided a logical and professional reason for the cancellation (work project and extended hours), and effectively inquired about transferring to an Analytics course. The tone is consistently appropriate for a formal letter to a college administrator. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the opening paragraph. There are no omissions, and the response follows the required structure perfectly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the notification of cancellation to the explanation, and finally to the inquiry about a new course. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Unfortunately', 'As a result', and 'However', to link your ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is smooth throughout the text. There is a minor punctuation error in the second paragraph ('As a result. I will...'), but this does not hinder the overall coherence of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal context. Phrases such as 'due to commence', 'consistent attendance', 'enhance my professional skills', and 'less demanding' are used accurately and naturally. The vocabulary is precise and contributes to the professional tone of the letter. 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 elevate the score further, 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 conditional clauses and relative clauses (e.g., 'I would also appreciate it if you could advise me...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free. There is a minor punctuation error where a period is used instead of a comma after 'As a result', and a slight error in subject-verb agreement in the third paragraph ('my work schedule become' should be 'becomes'). However, these are rare, non-systematic slips that do not impede communication. Your control over grammar is strong throughout the letter.

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

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