Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-18

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 request the cancellation of my enrollment in the upcoming part-time horticulture course and to inquire about transferring to a different program. The course is scheduled to begin next week, and I was looking forward to returning to study.

The reason for this request is that I was initially undecided between horticulture and agronomy. Under some pressure from peers, I selected horticulture. However, after further reflection, I have realized that a course in agronomy aligns much better with my long-term academic goals and career prospects. Furthermore, coming from a agricultural background, an agronomy focus would allow me to apply theoretical concepts directly to practical farming operations.

I would be extremely grateful if you could transfer my registration from horticulture to the agronomy program for the upcoming term. I am more than happy to pay any administrative or cancellation fees required to process this change.

Thank you for your time and assistance.

Yours faithfully,

Amitoz Singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully covers all three bullet points from the prompt in a natural and appropriate tone. You clearly identified the course you booked by writing, 'upcoming part-time horticulture course'. You explained the reason for cancellation by mentioning your indecision between horticulture and agronomy, peer pressure, and how agronomy better aligns with your long-term goals. Finally, you successfully asked about transferring to a different program by stating, 'transfer my registration from horticulture to the agronomy program for the upcoming term'. The purpose of the letter is entirely clear, maintaining a polite and professional tone appropriate for a college administrator throughout. Your ideas are well developed and extended logically, satisfying all the requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter displays a very clear and logical organization and progression throughout. The response is divided into logical paragraphs, beginning with a clear opening statement of purpose, moving through the detailed explanation and transfer request, and ending with a polite sign-off. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'However', and referencing pronouns like 'this request' are used flexibly and accurately without feeling mechanical. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, separating the introductory context, the detailed reasons, and the final administrative request. Overall, the flow of information is smooth, natural, and easy for the reader to follow from beginning to end.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary suited to the context of academic administration and course registration. Phrases such as 'request the cancellation of my enrollment', 'long-term academic goals', 'career prospects', and 'theoretical concepts' show a strong command of less common lexical items with good awareness of collocation and style. Word choice is precise, and there are no noticeable errors in spelling or word formation. Your ability to discuss academic preferences naturally enables you to achieve a high band score for this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The writing exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences used with a high degree of accuracy. Sentences such as 'The reason for this request is that I was initially undecided between horticulture and agronomy' and 'I would be extremely grateful if you could transfer my registration' showcase excellent control over subordinate clauses and conditional forms. The majority of your sentences are entirely error-free, with only a tiny slip ('coming from a agricultural background' instead of 'an agricultural background'), which is completely non-systematic and does not impede communication at all. Punctuation and sentence boundaries are handled with precision.

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