Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Dear Mr Smith,

I am Shagandeep Kaur, assistant sales manager in your team. I am writing this letter to you to request you to reduce my working hours as I have been planning to do an advanced course in Sales management from University of British Columbia.

I have received an e-mail regarding my classes from the University and it stated that my classes will commence from September 21, 2026. Further, it mentioned that I will be required to attend classes on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Due to clash of my classes timing with my work schedule, it would be a strenuous task for me to manage both. Therefore, for the days I have my classes I would have to leave early from office.

This course would be extremely beneficial for our company as after completing it I would have better knowledge of how to deal with customers and it would also help me to understand market trends. I would be grateful if you could give me permission for this and I give you my commitment that I will work from home on the days I will leave early.

Yours sincerely,

Shagandeep

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained the reason for your request (the university course), specified the required hours (Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.), and articulated the benefits to your employer. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning. You have maintained a consistent professional stance throughout the response, ensuring all requirements of the task are met effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use cohesive devices such as 'Further', 'Therefore', and 'This course would be' to link your ideas. While the transition between the second and third paragraphs is functional, the overall flow is smooth and professional. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the progression of ideas is logical and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for a professional context, such as 'commence', 'strenuous', and 'commitment'. There is an attempt to use less common items, and your word choice is generally accurate. However, there are minor issues with collocation and phrasing, such as 'do an advanced course' (better: 'pursue an advanced course') and 'clash of my classes timing' (better: 'clash between my class times'). Despite these minor inaccuracies, your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your message with precision and clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your meaning is always clear. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'I am writing this letter to you to request you to reduce' (a bit repetitive) and 'on the days I will leave early' (could be 'on the days I leave early'). Punctuation is generally accurate. You show good control over complex structures, and the occasional errors do not impede communication or cause any difficulty for the reader.

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

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