Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-16

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 Dr. Trinh Quang Day, head of the Women's Health Department,

My name is Vy Thao Hoang. I am working as a resident doctor in your department. I am writing to formally request a temporary reduction in my weekly working hours, starting next month.

I have been granted an invaluable opportunity to participate in an online training course in obstetric ultrasound, organized by a leading institution in Singapore. The course is scheduled from the 19th of July to the 20th of August, with online sessions running every afternoon from 5.00 PM to 8.00 PM. Since I have regular duty shifts on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday afternoons, I would like to request a reduction in my clinical duties from 40 hours to 30 hours per week.

As a resident, attending this course will directly enhance my clinical diagnosis and treatment capabilities. This training will prove invaluable, as it will not only enable me to perform precise point-of-care ultrasounds, but also independently handle critical obstetric emergencies and complex gynecological cases for our department.

Thank you for your continuous support of our professional development. I look forward to your approval and guidance.

Sincerely,

Vy Thao Hoang, MD

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The letter fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request (the obstetric ultrasound course), specify the desired hours (reducing from 40 to 30), and articulate the benefits to your employer (enhanced clinical diagnosis and emergency handling). The tone is appropriately formal and professional throughout. The ideas are well-developed, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have successfully met all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: the introduction states the purpose, the body paragraphs detail the request and the benefits, and the closing is professional. Cohesive devices such as 'Since', 'As a resident', and 'not only... but also' are used effectively to link ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the flow of information is smooth and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for a professional medical context. Phrases such as 'invaluable opportunity', 'clinical diagnosis', 'point-of-care ultrasounds', and 'complex gynecological cases' show a high level of lexical control. The language is natural and sophisticated, fitting the formal register required for a letter to a superior. There are no errors in word choice or collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The writing exhibits a high degree of grammatical accuracy and a good range of complex structures. You use subordinate clauses effectively, such as 'Since I have regular duty shifts...' and 'This training will prove invaluable, as it will not only enable me to...'. Punctuation is accurate, and the sentence structures are varied. The control over tense and aspect is consistent, and there are no noticeable grammatical errors.

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.