Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-15

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 Mr. Smith,

I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours because I am planning to start a part-time course next month.

Currently, I work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. However, my classes will be held in the evenings, and I need some extra time for travelling and completing my assignments. Therefore, I would like to work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. I believe this schedule would allow me to manage both my job and studies effectively.

The course is related to business management and will help me improve my communication, leadership and problem-solving skills. These skills would also be useful in my current position, as I would be able to handle customers more effectively and take on additional responsibilities. Therefore, I believe my studies would benefit both my professional development and the company.

I hope you will consider my request, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Sandeep Kaur

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 reason for the request (part-time study), specify the desired working hours (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.), and provide a logical argument for how the employer will benefit from your new skills. The tone is appropriate for a formal business letter, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, meeting all the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a clear focus: the first introduces the request, the second details the schedule, and the third explains the benefits to the company. You use cohesive devices such as 'Currently,' 'However,' 'Therefore,' and 'In addition' (implied through structure) effectively to link your sentences and paragraphs. The flow is smooth, and the paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points, making the letter easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal request. Phrases like 'reduction in my working hours,' 'manage both my job and studies effectively,' and 'professional development' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and precise, it is mostly standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate slightly more sophisticated or idiomatic business collocations, but the current range is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly and professionally without any errors in word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of sentence structures used throughout the letter. You successfully combine simple and complex sentences, such as using 'because' and 'as' to provide reasons. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no noticeable grammatical errors. The control over tense and modal verbs (e.g., 'would like,' 'will help,' 'would be able to') is consistent and appropriate for the context of a formal request. The writing is error-free, reflecting a high level of control.

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

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