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 Paul,

I am writing to request that you consider reducing my working hours so that I can pursue part-time studies.

The main reason for this request is that I have enrolled in a part-time course. The classes are held during weekdays, and I need sufficient time to attend lectures and complete assignments.

If possible, I would like to work from Monday to Wednesday, from 8 am to 5 pm. This schedule would allow me to continue contribute to the company while managing my studies effectively. So I can manage both study and work effectively.

This course focuses on advanced management and communication skills. The knowledge and practical experience I gain will help me perform my duties more efficiently and contribute more effectively to the company's success.

I hope you will consider my request favourably. Thank you for your time and understanding.

I look forward to your positive response.

Yours Sincerely,

Vishal

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 your request (enrolling in a part-time course), specified your preferred working hours (Monday to Wednesday, 8 am to 5 pm), and articulated the benefits to your employer by linking your studies to 'advanced management and communication skills'. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a supervisor. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring the reader understands both your needs and the value you continue to provide to the company. The response is well-structured and meets all the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the request to the schedule and finally the benefits. You use appropriate paragraphing and transition signals such as 'The main reason for this request' and 'This course focuses on'. While the flow is generally smooth, the repetition of the phrase 'effectively' in the second paragraph ('contribute to the company while managing my studies effectively. So I can manage both study and work effectively') creates a slight redundancy. Improving the variety of cohesive devices would elevate the score further, but the overall structure is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly and professionally. Phrases like 'pursue part-time studies', 'enrolled in a part-time course', and 'perform my duties more efficiently' are well-chosen and appropriate for the context. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items related to professional development. The current vocabulary is accurate and functional, meeting the requirements for a solid performance in a General Training task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

Your grammar is generally accurate, and you use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. For example, 'I am writing to request that you consider...' and 'The knowledge and practical experience I gain will help me...' are grammatically sound. There is a minor error in the second paragraph: 'continue contribute' should be 'continue to contribute'. Additionally, the sentence 'So I can manage both study and work effectively' is a sentence fragment that would be better joined to the previous sentence. Despite these minor slips, 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.

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