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 formally request the cancellation of my enrolment in the part-time evening Accountancy course, which is scheduled to begin next month. My student registration number is AC-89421.

Unfortunately, due to an unexpected restructuring at my workplace, my employer has assigned me to lead a major project. This new role requires frequent evening overtime, making it impossible for me to attend the scheduled weekday classes.

However, I remain keen on continuing my professional development at your college. Could you please advise if there are alternative options available, particularly weekend or self-paced courses? I am especially interested in your weekend Data Analytics programme.

If there are any available seats in that intake, please let me know the procedure to transfer my paid tuition fees across to the new course so that I may commence studies in October.

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

Yours faithfully,

Alex Smith

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 (Accountancy), provided a logical and professional reason for the cancellation (workplace restructuring), and effectively inquired about alternative options (Data Analytics). The tone is consistently formal and appropriate for a letter to a college administrator. The purpose of the letter is clear from the outset, and the request for a fee transfer is a well-integrated detail that demonstrates a high level of task completion. All requirements are met with a professional and polite approach.

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', 'However', and 'If there are' are used naturally to link sentences and paragraphs. The structure is coherent, and the flow of information is smooth, making the letter very easy to follow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of the request.

Lexical Resource — Band 9.0

You demonstrate a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal business context. Phrases such as 'formally request the cancellation', 'unexpected restructuring', 'professional development', and 'commence studies' are used with precision and natural collocation. There are no errors in word choice or spelling. The language is precise and conveys the intended meaning without any ambiguity, reflecting a high level of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and conditional clauses, all of which are used accurately. For example, the sentence 'This new role requires frequent evening overtime, making it impossible for me to attend the scheduled weekday classes' shows excellent control over participial phrases. Punctuation is accurate throughout, and there are no grammatical errors. The writing is error-free, demonstrating full flexibility and control over the language.

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

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