Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-05

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 8.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to formally request the cancellation of my enrollment in a part-time course at Conestoga College, which I booked last month for the Spring 2027 term.

My name is Malleswari Katari, and I had originally planned to join the French Language Proficiency course scheduled to begin in January 2027. However, due to recent developments in my career, I have decided not to move forward with this program. My current employment requires me to acquire skills in business analysis. Gaining expertise in this area will not only enhance my professional skill set, but it will also make me eligible for a promotion to a Business Systems Analyst position that my company is actively seeking to fill.

Therefore, I kindly request that you accept my cancellation for the upcoming intake. Additionally, I am interested in enrolling in a Business Analyst course instead. Could you please provide me with more information regarding this program? Specifically, I would like to know:

When the next course starts

The overall duration of the program

The fee structure and payment options

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

Yours sincerely,

Malleswari Katari

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly identify the French Language Proficiency course, provide a logical and professional reason for the cancellation related to career advancement, and effectively inquire about the Business Analyst course. The tone is consistently formal and appropriate for a letter to an administrator. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have successfully met all requirements of the task with a professional and structured approach.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

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 information, and the conclusion provides a polite closing. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Therefore', and 'Additionally' are used naturally to link ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is smooth, making the letter very easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal business context. Phrases such as 'formally request the cancellation', 'professional skill set', and 'fee structure' are used accurately. The vocabulary is sophisticated and contributes to the professional tone of the letter. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is natural and precise throughout the entire response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response exhibits a high level of grammatical control. You use a variety of complex sentence structures, such as the conditional 'will not only... but it will also...' and relative clauses, with complete accuracy. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, including the use of a colon for the list of questions. There are no grammatical errors, and the sentence construction is varied and fluent, reflecting a high degree of proficiency.

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.