Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-11

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 7.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I recently booked a course titled "Algorithms" at AZ College and was really excited to begin my learning journey. I have been reaearching about the subject in detail to understans the background.

However, it has just come to my attention that the course level is for advanced students and I am expected to have intermediate level of understanding on this subject prior to this course. Quite frankly, I chose this course thinking it would contain the foundation for beginners like me. Therefore, I would like to request cancellation of my booking.

Alternatively, I am interested a beginner friendly course on the same subject and would be keen on joining that instead. Kindly let me know if an entry level course on Algorithms is also being offered. If so, please transfer my booking to that course, provided it us also taught on Saturdays and payment can be adjusted. I really appreciate your assistance and support.

Regards,

Saif

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter clearly covers all three required points: you identify the Algorithms course, explain that it is intended for advanced students despite your beginner-level expectations, and ask about transferring to an entry-level alternative. The reason for cancelling is specific and easy to understand, and the request to retain Saturday classes and adjust payment adds useful detail. Your purpose remains clear throughout, and the polite tone suits a letter to a college administrator. To develop the request further, you could ask what beginner courses are available and whether the administrator can confirm the transfer or explain any cancellation procedure. This would make the practical next steps more fully supported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information follows a clear sequence: you introduce the booking, explain the mismatch in course level, and then propose an alternative. Paragraphing supports this progression, while transitions such as “However,” “Therefore,” and “Alternatively” make the relationships between ideas easy to follow. The closing request also connects logically to your proposed transfer. Some linking is slightly formulaic, and the final sentence combines several conditions—Saturday scheduling and payment adjustment—without much separation. You could improve the flow by giving the alternative-course enquiry and the transfer conditions distinct sentences, and by using a more direct transition into the practical request. Overall, the organisation is clear and the reader can follow your purpose without difficulty.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a formal cancellation letter, including “advanced students,” “foundation,” “entry level,” and “transfer my booking.” These expressions communicate the course-level issue and your preferred solution. There are, however, some spelling and word-choice errors: “reaearching” and “understans” are misspelled, while “interested a beginner friendly course” is an inaccurate construction and “beginner friendly” would be clearer as “suitable for beginners.” “Learning journey” is understandable but somewhat generic for this practical letter. Aim for accurate, natural collocations and proofread spelling; for example, “I have been researching the subject” is more idiomatic than “researching about the subject.” Greater precision would make the vocabulary more flexible and polished.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The letter shows a useful mix of simple and complex structures. For example, “I chose this course thinking it would contain the foundation for beginners like me” combines a main clause with a participial phrase, and “provided it us also taught on Saturdays” attempts a conditional qualification. Many sentences are grammatically clear, and punctuation generally helps the reader. Some errors remain: “I am interested a beginner friendly course” needs “interested in,” and “provided it us also taught” should be “provided it is also taught.” The sentence beginning “I have been…” also contains spelling problems, which belong under vocabulary rather than grammar. Continue practising preposition patterns and checking auxiliary verbs; these corrections would improve accuracy while preserving your varied sentence structures.

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