Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

Dear Manager,

I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours because I would like to begin studying part time. I believe that gaining additional qualifications will help me develop my skills and improve my future career prospects.

Ideally, I would like to work from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. This schedule would allow me to attend classes and complete my coursework in the evenings.

I believe my studies would also benefit the company. I would gain new knowledge and skills that I could apply to my current role, which could help me work more efficiently and take on additional responsibilities in the future. I would also be able to bring fresh ideas and approaches to my work.

I hope you will consider my request. I am happy to discuss the proposed schedule and make any necessary arrangements to ensure that my responsibilities continue to be managed effectively.

Yours sincerely,

Harman Singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain the motivation for the request (studying part-time), specify the desired working hours (9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.), and provide a logical argument for how the employer will benefit from your studies. The tone is professional and appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have fully satisfied the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a single aspect of the request, which makes the letter easy to follow. You use appropriate cohesive devices such as 'Ideally', 'This schedule', and 'I would also be able to' to link your sentences and paragraphs effectively. The structure is clear, starting with the purpose, moving to the specifics, and concluding with a professional offer to discuss the matter further. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the message.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal business context. Phrases like 'gaining additional qualifications', 'future career prospects', and 'make any necessary arrangements' are used accurately and naturally. While the vocabulary is functional and precise, it is somewhat standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or nuanced professional terminology. However, the language used is entirely sufficient for the task and there are no errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your grammar is highly accurate throughout the letter. You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively, such as the conditional 'which could help me work more efficiently' and the use of modal verbs like 'would' to maintain a polite, professional tone. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no noticeable grammatical errors. The control over sentence construction is strong, and the writing flows smoothly. The accuracy is consistent, which is a key indicator of a high-level performance in this criterion.

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

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