Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-26

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 7.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to withdraw my registration for the part-time course I enrolled at your campus. I took admission in the culinary arts short-term course of 6 months in the fall semester. Initially, I was fascinated by the accelerated nature of this course and placement opportunities provided.

I need to cancel my admission in this subject as I won't be able to attend the classes in the fall semester because I am employed in a research project which has been extended to the end of this year. Hence, in order to complete my current project I need to reschedule my plans for the September month.

I would also like to know about other courses offered at the university during the winter term. Specifically, related to food management, preparation, and handling. It will assist me in my future endeavours. Should you have any questions, please let me know.

Yours sincerely,

James Anderson

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly identify the culinary arts course, provide a logical reason for the cancellation (a research project extension), and inquire about alternative courses for the winter term. 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 ideas are well-developed and relevant to the task requirements. You have maintained a professional stance throughout, which is essential for this type of correspondence.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow your intentions easily. You use cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Hence', and 'Specifically' to link your ideas effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the cancellation request and the inquiry about future courses is smooth. The overall structure is coherent, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to navigate.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal letter. Phrases like 'withdraw my registration', 'accelerated nature', and 'future endeavours' are used accurately and contribute to a professional tone. While the vocabulary is sufficient and precise, there is room to incorporate slightly more sophisticated collocations to reach the highest band. For instance, instead of 'took admission', 'enrolled in' is more natural. Overall, your word choice is effective, and there are no errors that impede communication or cause confusion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with a high degree of accuracy. The grammar is generally sound, and the punctuation is used correctly to support the flow of your writing. There are very few errors; for example, 'I took admission in the culinary arts' is slightly awkward, and 'employed in a research project' could be improved to 'working on a research project'. However, these are minor issues that do not affect the clarity of your message. The majority of your sentences are error-free.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.