Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-12

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,

I am writing this letter to formally request the cancellation of my enrollment in a part-time course at your institution, which I recently booked.

The course I registered for is the Introduction to Graphic Design evening program, scheduled to commence next month. My student registration reference number for this booking is GD-98432.

Unfortunately, I must cancel this booking due to an unexpected change in my professional circumstances. My employer has recently revised our team's project shift schedules, and I am now required to work late evenings in the exact days this class takes place. Because of these mandatory work hours, I will no longer be able to attend the sessions.

Given this situation, I would highly appreciate it if you could provide details on how I might book a different course. Specifically, I am interested to know if you offer a similar graphic design module on weekends, or if there is a self-paced online alternative available that I could switch my enrollment to.

Thank you for your time, assistance and understanding regarding this matter. I look forward to hearing from you soon about alternative options.

Yours faithfully,

Surpreet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully satisfies all requirements of the task. The student successfully identifies the specific part-time course they booked, namely the 'Introduction to Graphic Design evening program', including a registration reference number. Furthermore, the reason for cancellation is clearly and logically explained through an unexpected change in professional circumstances involving mandatory shift changes. Finally, the letter effectively asks about booking a different course, enquiring about weekend modules and online alternatives. The tone is consistently appropriate for a formal letter to a college administrator. The purpose is sustained clearly from beginning to end without any omissions, earning a solid band score for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter exhibits a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information is naturally sequenced starting with the purpose of the letter, followed by specific details, the reason for cancellation, alternative enquiries, and a polite sign-off. Paragraphing is used skillfully and appropriately, with each paragraph serving a distinct communicative function. Cohesive devices such as referencing ('this booking', 'Given this situation') and conjunctions are managed well without being intrusive or mechanical. The salutation ('Dear Sir') and closing ('Yours faithfully') are also correctly matched according to standard formal conventions.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible range of vocabulary suited to a formal context. Phrases such as 'formally request the cancellation', 'unexpected change in my professional circumstances', and 'mandatory work hours' reflect natural control and precision. Less common lexical items are used effectively with a strong awareness of style and collocation, as seen in 'commence next month' and 'alternative options'. There are no spelling or word-choice errors, allowing the communication to flow smoothly and naturally. The lexical control easily meets the requirements for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The writing features a wide range of complex sentence structures used with a high degree of accuracy. Examples include subordinate clauses ('which I recently booked', 'that I could switch my enrollment to') and conditional constructions that demonstrate excellent syntactic control. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and punctuation is handled with precision. Minor slips are virtually absent, and grammar never impedes comprehension. The control over tense consistency—such as moving seamlessly from past booking to present circumstances and future alternatives—is handled with maturity.

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

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