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 inform you 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 discussed 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 reduce my hours it would help me to perform better in my 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

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained the reason for your request (enrolling in a French course), specified your preferred working hours (mornings), and articulated the benefit to your employer (future permanent residency and long-term commitment). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring the reader understands your situation and the proposed solution. To reach a higher band, ensure that the connection between your studies and the employer's benefit is slightly more direct, perhaps by mentioning how the language skills could assist in client communication or office operations.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a formal conclusion. You have used transition words such as 'Furthermore', 'In particular', and 'Finally' to guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different requirements of the task. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the letter flows well from start to finish. To improve, you could vary your cohesive devices slightly more, as some transitions are quite standard. Overall, the structure is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'earliest convenience', 'adjust my working hours', and 'enrolled in' are appropriate for a formal business context. There are no significant spelling errors, and your word choice is generally accurate. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items. For example, instead of 'really helpful', you could use 'immensely beneficial', and instead of 'fix my morning schedule', you might use 'accommodate a morning-only shift'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good command of grammar with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your punctuation is generally correct. There are minor slips, such as 'enrolled in French course' (missing an article: 'a French course') and 'in future enables me' (should be 'in the future, this will enable me'). These errors do not impede communication. To improve, focus on ensuring articles are used consistently and try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, to demonstrate greater flexibility.

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

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