Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-29

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 I recently enrolled in at your college.

Unfortunately, I have recently been offered a new job that requires me to work during the evenings, when the course is scheduled to take place. As a result, I will no longer be able to attend the classes regularly, and I would therefore like to cancel my booking.

However, I am still interested in studying at your college. Could you please let me know whether there are any other part-time courses available that are held during the daytime or at weekends? I would be particularly interested in a course related to Marketing or Accounting.

I would appreciate it if you could also explain the procedure for changing my booking and whether any part of my course fee can be transferred to a different course.

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

Yours faithfully,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly identified the course (Business Management), provided a logical reason for the cancellation (new job/evening hours), and effectively inquired about alternative options (daytime/weekend courses in Marketing or Accounting). The tone is consistently appropriate for a formal letter to an administrator. The purpose of the letter is clear from the outset, and the ideas are well-developed, ensuring the reader understands your situation and your request without any ambiguity. You have successfully fulfilled all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: the introduction states the purpose, the body paragraphs explain the situation and request alternatives, and the conclusion provides a polite closing. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Unfortunately,' 'As a result,' 'However,' and 'In addition,' which help guide the reader smoothly through the text. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow throughout the entire response.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You have demonstrated a strong command of vocabulary, using precise and natural language suitable for a formal context. Phrases such as 'enrolled in,' 'scheduled to take place,' 'particularly interested,' and 'procedure for changing my booking' are accurate and demonstrate a good range. The word choice is sophisticated and fits the context of a formal administrative request perfectly. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary used is both flexible and precise, which is indicative of a high level of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The grammar is excellent, with a wide range of complex sentence structures used accurately. You have successfully employed conditional structures ('whether there are any other...'), passive voice ('which I recently enrolled in'), and complex noun phrases. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical errors to note. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and aspect is consistent and accurate. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of grammatical sophistication.

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

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