Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-06

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 8.0)

Dear sir or Madam,

I am writing to formally request the cancellation of my enrollment in a part-time course that i recently secured at your college.

Recently, last week i booked a part-time course named digital marketing in your college in order to learn about managing money and making money on digital platforms.

Unfortunately, due to an unexpected change in my professional circumstances, I will no longer be able to attend this class. My employer has recently revised our team's operational schedule, requiring me to take on mandatory evening shifts for the foreseeable future. Consequently, this directly conflicts with the timetable of the marketing course.

Given these circumstances, I would be grateful if you could process my cancellation and advise me on your refund policy. Additionally, I am highly interested in alternative options. Could you please let me know if the college offers a weekend version of this same course, or perhaps a fully asynchronous online module that I could pursue instead?

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

Yours faithfully,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly identify the course, provide a logical and professional reason for the cancellation, and effectively inquire about alternative study options. 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 fully satisfied the requirements of the task by providing all necessary information in a structured and polite manner.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the request to the explanation and finally to the inquiry. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Consequently,' 'Given these circumstances,' and 'Additionally,' which help to link your ideas smoothly. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is easy to follow, ensuring that the reader can navigate your request without confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for a formal letter. Phrases such as 'formally request,' 'professional circumstances,' 'mandatory evening shifts,' and 'asynchronous online module' show a strong command of language. There is a good awareness of collocation and style. While the vocabulary is precise and effective, it is consistently accurate, and you avoid repetitive or overly simple language, which contributes to the professional tone of the correspondence.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The letter displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of participial phrases ('requiring me to take on...') and conditional clauses. The grammar is generally accurate, with only minor slips, such as the capitalization error in the opening ('sir or Madam' should be 'Sir or Madam') and the lowercase 'i' in the first paragraph. These are rare, non-systematic errors that do not impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free and demonstrate good control over punctuation and syntax.

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.