Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-18

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 Anuj,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. I am writing to update you regarding a part-time study course I have enrolled in outside of working hours.

I am currently preparing for the IELTS exam to strengthen my English speaking and vocabulary skills. As a result, I would like to request a temporary reduction in my working hours, from 40 to 24 hours per week, for a period of two months. Specifically, I would be available to work on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays, totaling 24 hours across these three days.

I would also like to mention that, under government regulations, students are permitted to work no more than 24 hours per week, so this arrangement would keep me compliant with those rules. Furthermore, since we operate in a customer service business, I believe that improving my communication skills through this course will directly benefit our team's ratings and customer satisfaction going forward.

I would be happy to discuss this further at your convenience, and I am glad to provide any additional details you may need.

Yours sincerely,

Hardik

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request (IELTS preparation), specify the desired working hours (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays), and articulate the benefit to the employer (improved communication skills for customer service). The tone is appropriate for a formal business request, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, meeting all requirements for a Band 8.0 performance in this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the introduction and request to the justification and closing. Cohesive devices such as 'Specifically,' 'Furthermore,' and 'As a result' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the flow of information is smooth throughout the response, making it easy for the reader to follow your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a professional context. Phrases like 'temporary reduction,' 'compliant with those rules,' and 'at your convenience' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and precise, it stays within a standard range. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions that sound more natural in a business setting, though the current usage is error-free and effective for the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of complex sentence structures used correctly. For example, your use of subordinate clauses ('since we operate in a customer service business, I believe that...') and conditional-like structures shows good control. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The writing is fluent, and the majority of sentences are error-free, which is consistent with the Band 8 descriptor for this criterion.

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

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