Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-23

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 Business Management course, which is scheduled to begin next month.

I enrolled in this course because I wanted to improve my management skills while continuing to work. However, due to an unexpected change in my work schedule, I have recently been required to work additional hours, including some evenings. As a result, I will no longer be able to attend the classes regularly. I would therefore be grateful if you could cancel my booking and let me know whether I am eligible for the refund of the course fee.

I am still interested in studying at your college and would like to know whether I could transfer my booking for a different course. In particular, I would be interested in an online or weekend course that would be more suitable for my current schedule. Could you please provide me with information about the available options, including their starting dates and fees?

I apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your assistance. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

John Patel

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 (Business Management), provided a logical reason for the cancellation (work schedule changes), and made a specific inquiry regarding alternative course options. The tone is consistently appropriate for a formal letter to an administrator. The purpose of the letter is clear from the outset, and the development of ideas is sufficient to meet the requirements of the task. There are no omissions, and the information is presented in a professional and coherent manner.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: the first states the purpose, the second explains the situation and requests a refund, and the third explores alternative options. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'As a result', 'In particular', and 'therefore' are used naturally and effectively to link ideas. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the message. The transition between the cancellation request and the inquiry about future courses is smooth and professional.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal business context. Phrases such as 'request the cancellation', 'unexpected change', 'eligible for the refund', and 'inconvenience caused' are used accurately. The vocabulary is precise and fits the formal register required for this task. There are no spelling errors, and the word choice is consistently natural, showing a high level of control over the language required for this type of correspondence.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The writing exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You successfully use complex sentences, such as 'I would therefore be grateful if you could cancel my booking and let me know whether I am eligible for the refund of the course fee.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical errors. The control over verb tenses and modal verbs (e.g., 'would like', 'could provide') is excellent, contributing to a very professional and polished tone.

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