Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-08

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 9.0)

Dear sir,

I am writing to formally request a reduction in my current working hours so that I may pursue part-time studies starting next month.

I have recently decided to enroll in an advanced certificate program in Retail Marketing and Cosmetics Merchandising. While my background in Business Administration has provided a strong foundation, I am eager to expand my knowledge of modern retail strategies and consumer behavior specific to the beauty industry.

To accommodate my class schedule and coursework, I would like to reduce my shifts from five days a week to four. Ideally, I would continue working my regular 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM schedule from Monday to Thursday, but take Fridays off to attend my lectures.

I strongly believe this educational pursuit will directly benefit our Shoppers Drug Mart location. The coursework focuses heavily on visual merchandising and inventory turnover strategies. I look forward to applying these updated techniques directly to my daily tasks as a beauty merchandiser, which should help enhance our promotional displays and ultimately drive higher sales in our department.

I would be happy to schedule a meeting to discuss how my responsibilities can be managed on Fridays to ensure the floor continues to run smoothly in my absence. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Prachi Arora

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You clearly explain the reason for the request (enrolling in a certificate program), specify the desired hours (Monday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM), and provide a compelling argument for how the employer will benefit from your studies (applying visual merchandising and inventory turnover strategies). The tone is appropriately formal and professional throughout, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and directly relevant to the prompt, demonstrating a strong understanding of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving smoothly from the request to the justification, the specific schedule, the benefits to the employer, and finally the closing. Cohesive devices such as 'While,' 'To accommodate,' and 'I strongly believe' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is skillful and appropriate for a formal letter, ensuring the reader can follow your argument without any confusion. The use of referencing is precise, and the overall structure is coherent.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for a professional context. Terms such as 'formally request,' 'pursue part-time studies,' 'advanced certificate program,' 'visual merchandising,' and 'inventory turnover strategies' are used accurately and naturally. There is a high level of control over word choice and collocation, which enhances the professional tone of the letter. The vocabulary is not only sufficient but also sophisticated, contributing to the clarity and impact of your message. There are no noticeable errors in spelling or word usage.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You successfully use complex sentence forms, such as 'While my background in Business Administration has provided a strong foundation, I am eager to expand my knowledge...' and 'I would be happy to schedule a meeting to discuss how my responsibilities can be managed...' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and the majority of sentences are error-free. The control over verb tenses and modal verbs is excellent, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence. The writing is fluent and error-free, with no slips that impede communication.

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

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