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
Sample Response
I regret to inform you that I must cancel my booking for the part-time coursecancel my enrollment in the part-time course “Business Management Essentials,” which was due to beginscheduled to commence on the 15th of May, 2024. An unexpected health issue has arisen, requiring me to undergo treatment that will conflict with the course schedule.
While I am sorry to have to cancelthis decision was not an easy one, I would greatly appreciate your details of any similar coursesguidance on any similar course offerings that begin after I have recoveredmight better align with my recovery timeline. Expanding my knowledge in business management remains a priority for me, as I believe it will help me achievewill be instrumental in achieving my long-term career goals. I am committed to exploring alternative options that will allow me to continue my education while also prioritizing my health and well-being.
Thank you for your understanding and assistance in this matter. I value the educational opportunities provided by your institution and look forward to the possibility of enrolling in a suitable course in the near future that meets both my academic interests and recovery needsacademic interests and personal needs during this challenging time.
Sincerely,
Sakshi Mehta
Why this response received Band 8.0
The letter is polished, coherent, and appropriately formal, with a clear cancellation, a credible reason, and an articulate request for alternative study options. Its main limitation is that the request about booking another course remains fairly general. The most useful improvement would be to ask directly about specific alternatives, start dates, or transfer arrangements so that the final bullet point is answered more concretely.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The letter clearly identifies the booked course, explains the cancellation, and requests guidance about a suitable alternative in an appropriate formal register.
Make the final request more specific by asking about available replacement courses, dates, and the procedure for transferring the booking.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically from the cancellation and its cause to future study plans, with clear paragraphing and smoothly managed connections.
Tighten the final paragraph slightly so that the practical request remains the clearest focus of the closing.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied, precise, and consistently suitable for a formal letter, with effective phrases related to enrolment, treatment, and future study.
Prefer a few more direct administrative terms, such as transfer, intake, or availability, when stating the action required from the college.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used accurately and naturally, with strong control of clause relationships and punctuation.
Maintain this accuracy while shortening the longest sentences to make the practical message even more immediate.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
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
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.