Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-17

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 am writing to request that I will no longer be able to work full time due to my part time studies. I would be grateful if you could adjust my working hours as it will be really helpful.

As talked previously, I am planning to learn French for immigration purposes and for that I have enrolled in French course at Alpha college. In particular, as a full time worker it is very hard for me to stay focused in studies while working at a full time position. If you would reduce my hours it would help me to perform better in exams.

Furthermore, I would like to share my timetable according to my classes. If possible, could you please fix my morning schedule because from 4 pm onwards I have to attend my in person French classes. I would greatly appreciate your assistance with this matter.

Finally, my part time studies would benefit this organization as well. If I clear this French exam I will be able to apply for my permanent residency which in future enables me to work here with this organization on a permanent basis.

I would appreciate your response at your earliest convenience and look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Kashish

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request (French studies), specify the desired hours (mornings), and provide a benefit to the employer (future permanent residency status). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a boss. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, though the connection between your French studies and the employer's benefit could be slightly more professional; focusing on how the language skills might assist the company directly would have been even stronger. Overall, the task is fully accomplished.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a formal conclusion. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which aids readability. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'In particular', and 'Finally' to link ideas. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs is slightly mechanical. To reach a higher band, ensure that the flow between sentences is more natural and that you vary your linking words beyond standard list-like transitions. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the message.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task. Phrases like 'earliest convenience' and 'adjust my working hours' are appropriate for a formal business context. However, there is some repetition of basic words like 'work' and 'full time'. To improve, try to use more precise synonyms or collocations. For example, instead of saying 'I am planning to learn French', you could use 'I have embarked on a course of study'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but lacks the sophistication or variety required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are some grammatical inaccuracies. For instance, 'I am writing to request that I will no longer be able to work' is slightly awkward; 'I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours' would be more natural. There are also minor errors in article usage and tense consistency, such as 'enrolled in French course' (missing 'a'). Despite these slips, your control of grammar is generally good, and the errors do not impede communication or cause confusion for the reader.

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

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