Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-19

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,

I hope this letter finds you well.

With due respect, I am writing this letter regarding the cancellation of a part-time course I booked at your college.

Last week, I have registered for a part-time programming course upon a recommendation of one of my friends and paid an applicable fees for the same. Intially, I had a impression that this course will be of great help to develop my programming skills and increase my career prospects.

However, I am no longer interested in this course because it seems to me quite complicated as I don't have any prior knowledge of computer science or mathematics. Moreover, my working hours clash with the class schedule of this particular course and my boss has also refused to change them.

Due to these couple of reasons, I want to cancel my booking for the course.

Additionally, I would like to bring your attention to that I have had a strong passion for marketing, dating back to my childhood. Furthermore, since the class schedule of marketing course at your college are not clashing with my working hours, I can attend all the classes conveniently.

Therefore, I kindly like to request you to enroll me in this marketing course.

I hope you consider my request promptly.

Kind regards,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

You address all three requirements clearly: you identify the programming course, explain both your lack of relevant background and the clash with work, and request a place on a marketing course. The reasons are relevant and supported, and your intention to cancel is explicit. The alternative course is also linked to your interest and availability, so the request is easy to understand. To make the response more fully developed, specify whether you want the college to transfer your existing booking or cancel it and process a new enrolment, and ask about availability or any fee implications. The opening “Dear Sir” also differs from the salutation specified in the task.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall sequence: you introduce the purpose, explain why the original course is unsuitable, then move to the marketing course and make a request. Paragraph breaks help distinguish these stages, and connectors such as “However,” “Moreover,” and “Therefore” make the progression visible. At times, though, the linking feels mechanical or repetitive: “Additionally” and “Furthermore” both introduce closely related points, while “Due to these couple of reasons” repeats the preceding explanation rather than advancing it. The final request could connect more directly to the cancellation by clarifying whether you are asking for a transfer. More natural transitions and tighter referencing would make the cohesion smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range for a formal college letter, including “career prospects,” “class schedule,” “prior knowledge,” and “passion for marketing.” These choices communicate the situation clearly, and the tone is generally appropriately polite. There are, however, some inaccurate or unnatural collocations and word forms: “an applicable fees,” “bring your attention to that,” and “kindly like to request” do not sound natural in this context. “Intially” is also misspelled, and “these couple of reasons” is awkward. Aim for precise, conventional phrases such as “the relevant fee,” “draw your attention to,” and “I would be grateful if you could…” This would improve naturalness and control while retaining your formal register.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You attempt a useful mix of simple and complex sentences, including the contrast introduced by “However” and the reason clause beginning “because.” Most of the message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “Last week, I have registered” uses an unsuitable tense for a completed past event; “a impression” needs the correct article; and “the class schedule … are not clashing” has a subject–verb agreement problem. There are also errors in plural and article use in “an applicable fees” and “a marketing course.” The sentence structures are generally clear, but more consistent control of past tense, agreement, and articles is needed. Proofreading these patterns would make the letter more accurate.

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