Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-05

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 7.5)

Dear Michael,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to request a reduction of my working hours temporarily so that I can pursue a course related to my field.

I have decided to enroll in a six-month course in Networking course, because I am sure this will improve my skills and help me to promote in new field in IT sector. However, the classes are held on weekday in early morning, making it difficult for me to continue working full-time.

If possible, I would like to work from 12:00 Pm to 10:00 pm, Monday to Friday. I am also interested to work additional hours on weekends whenever company calls for extra support.

I believe this course will benefit the company as well. Currently, I work in Programming department, after finishing this course, I will be able to work in Networking sector as well. Moreover, it will enhance my knowledge, enabling me to handle projects more effectively and contribute to improve productivity.

I would be very grateful if you could consider my request. I look forward to discussing this with you.

Yours sincerely

Sehaj

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained the reason for the request (pursuing a networking course), specified the desired working hours (12:00 PM to 10:00 PM), and articulated the benefits to your employer (expanding your skill set into the networking sector). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning. You have fully satisfied the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the request, which makes the information easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Moreover', and 'Currently' to link your ideas effectively. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter. The overall structure is coherent and supports the reader's understanding of your request.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'pursue a course', 'enhance my knowledge', and 'contribute to improve productivity' are well-chosen. There are some minor errors, such as 'Networking course' (the word 'course' is redundant here) and 'promote in new field' (should be 'gain a promotion' or 'advance in a new field'). However, these errors do not impede communication. The vocabulary is generally accurate and appropriate for a professional context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. For example, the use of conditional clauses ('If possible, I would like...') and participial phrases ('making it difficult...') shows good control. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'Networking course' (article usage) and 'contribute to improve' (should be 'contribute to improving'). Additionally, 'whenever company calls' requires an article ('the company'). Despite these occasional errors, the majority of your sentences are error-free, and your meaning is always clear.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.