Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-30

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You would like to reduce your working hours in order to study part time.

Write a letter to your boss. In your letter

• explain why you want to reduce your working hours
• say which hours you would like to work
• describe how your part-time studies would benefit your employer

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ....................................,

Student answer (Band 7.0)

Dear Sir,

This is inform you that, I would want to request you to reduce my working hours to study part time. The reduction would help me learn and brush up my practical skills on the tools that we use in our office work. In a week, I would require atleast 20 hours of study to get my certifications, so I would only be able to work for 20 hours per week. These certifications will help me move forward in the smooth functioning of the organisation particularly the department, I look after. And the credibility of my work performance would be enhanced, as I'll get more in-depth knowledge of data systems and human resources which play a key role in various aspects of the organisation. I really hope you consider my request as my goal through achieving these certifications is to add up to the company's betterment. I look forward to your prompt response on this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Deeksha Deshpande

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt: explaining the reason for the request, specifying the desired hours, and describing the benefits to the employer. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For example, while you mention that the certifications will help the organization, providing a more concrete example of how your new skills would solve a specific office problem would have strengthened the response. Overall, the purpose of the letter is clear and the requirements are met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the request to the justification and finally to the benefits. You use some cohesive devices such as 'particularly', 'as', and 'in order to'. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire body of the letter is contained in one block. Breaking the letter into distinct paragraphs for the request, the details of the hours, and the benefits would significantly improve the readability and logical flow. Additionally, some transitions feel slightly mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'credibility', 'functioning', and 'certifications'. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'add up to the company's betterment', which is not a standard idiomatic expression. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher band score. Using more sophisticated collocations would enhance the professional tone of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The reduction would help me learn...' and 'These certifications will help me move forward...'. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'This is inform you that' (should be 'This is to inform you') and 'the department, I look after' (incorrect comma usage). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading. A wider variety of complex structures would also help to elevate the grammatical range.

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