Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-01

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/Mam,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing with regard to reduce my working hours because I have joined one year course of digital marketing as a part-time student. As it will be difficult for me to balance my studies with working more hours.

In addition, it would be great if you could schedule me for 20 hours per week. So, I can manage my job as well as course projects and exams. Right now I am almost working 35 hours per week for morning shifts. However, classes will start from 9 am to 1 pm, so It will be great if you can give me evenings shift during this course.

Furthermore, after completing my part-time course, I could handle the company's social media platforms. Since I am learning search engine optimization, which could help us get more customers through online platforms.

Thank you for your understanding. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours Sincerely,

Priya Sahota

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request (digital marketing course), specify the desired hours (20 hours per week), and provide a logical benefit to the employer (managing social media and SEO). The tone is appropriate for a formal business letter. To reach a higher band, ensure that your explanations are slightly more detailed; for instance, you could elaborate on how your current shift conflicts with the specific class times to make the request more persuasive. Overall, the purpose of the letter is clear and the requirements are fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Furthermore', and 'Since' to link your ideas. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally slightly mechanical. For example, the transition between the first and second paragraph could be smoother. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different requirements of the task. To improve, try to vary your cohesive devices and ensure that the progression of ideas feels more natural rather than just following the bullet points strictly.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task, using terms like 'digital marketing', 'search engine optimization', and 'social media platforms' correctly. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'I am writing with regard to reduce' (should be 'to reducing') and 'almost working 35 hours' (should be 'working approximately 35 hours'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands. Incorporating more sophisticated collocations or professional business terminology would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as sentence fragments ('As it will be difficult for me...') and incorrect preposition usage ('classes will start from 9 am to 1 pm' should be 'between 9 am and 1 pm'). Additionally, 'Sir/Mam' is a slightly informal opening for a formal letter; 'Dear Sir or Madam' is preferred. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that every sentence has a clear main clause.

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