Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-28

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have enrolled in an evening course but you have found that you are too busy to continue and would like to take the course next term instead.

• explain the situation and why you cannot continue the course

• say what you would like to do about your studies

• ask for advice about what you can do about the situation

Student answer (Band 9.0)

Dear Mr. Smith

I am writing to explain my situation regarding the evening graphic design course I recently started.

Unfortunately, I cannot continue attending the classes this term. My employer recently increased my workload, and I now have to work late several nights a week. Because of these extra hours, I am too tired and busy to focus on the coursework or attend the evening sessions.

I would like to defer my enrollment and take this same course next term instead. By then, my work project will be finished, and I will have the free time required to study properly.

Could you please advise me on the administrative steps I need to take to postpone my registration? Please let me know if I can transfer my current tuition fee to the next term or if I need to fill out a formal withdrawal form.

Thank you for your time and understanding.

Yours sincerely,

Keval Shah

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly explain the situation regarding your increased workload, state your intention to defer the course to the next term, and ask specific, relevant questions about the administrative process. The tone is consistently appropriate for a formal letter to an instructor or administrator. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. There are no omissions, and the response effectively communicates the necessary information to the recipient.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: the introduction states the purpose, the second paragraph explains the situation, the third outlines the proposed solution, and the final paragraph seeks guidance. Cohesive devices such as 'Unfortunately', 'Because of these', 'By then', and 'Could you please' are used naturally to link sentences and ideas. Paragraphing is used effectively, and the overall structure is professional and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal context. Phrases such as 'defer my enrollment', 'administrative steps', and 'postpone my registration' are precise and well-chosen. The language is natural and conveys your meaning without any errors. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it is standard for this type of correspondence; incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations could elevate the score further, but the current range is entirely sufficient for the task requirements.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The writing is highly accurate with no grammatical errors. You utilize a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences such as 'Because of these extra hours, I am too tired and busy to focus on the coursework or attend the evening sessions.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and the control over verb tenses and modal verbs (e.g., 'could', 'would like to') is excellent. The writing is error-free, which is indicative of a high level of grammatical control.

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

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