Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-14

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,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to this letter to request you that a reduction in my working hours because I have recently decided to pursue a part-time course in business management. I believe this course will help me to continue contributing effectively to the company.

At present, I work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, I would like to change my working hours to 9. am to 2 p.m., Monday to Friday. This arrangement would give me sufficient time to attend my classes and complete my studies without affecting my professional responsibilities.

I believe that my studies would also benefit the company in the long term. The course will improve my communication, management and problem-solving skills, which I could apply to my current role. Furthermore, I would be able to bring new ideas and knowledge to the workplace.

I would greatly appreciate your consideration of my request. I look forward to discussing this arrangement with you.

Yours sincerely,

Divya Gujjar

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request (pursuing a business management course), specify the desired working hours (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.), and articulate the benefits to the employer (improved communication and problem-solving skills). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a supervisor, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and logically presented, ensuring the reader understands the request and its rationale. No parts of the task are omitted, and the letter maintains a professional focus throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is well-organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the request to the logistics and finally the benefits. Cohesive devices such as 'At present', 'However', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The structure is logical and easy to follow, and the paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter. There is a clear sense of flow, and the relationship between the ideas is explicitly stated, which makes the communication very effective.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a professional context. Phrases like 'pursue a part-time course', 'contributing effectively', and 'professional responsibilities' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it could be elevated further to reach the highest bands by incorporating more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items. There are no significant errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication, and the tone remains consistently formal and polite throughout the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The grammar is generally accurate, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You successfully use subordinate clauses to explain your reasoning. There are a few minor slips, such as 'I am writing to this letter to request you that a reduction', which should be 'I am writing this letter to request a reduction'. Additionally, there is a minor punctuation error in '9. am', which should be '9 a.m.'. Despite these occasional slips, the majority of your sentences are error-free, and your meaning is always clear to the reader.

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.