Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 Mr. Bisht,

I am writing to ask whether it would be possible to reduce my working hours so that I can pursue part-time studies at university.

As you are no doubt aware, I am currently working as a Marketing Manager and am responsible for a range of tasks within the Marketing Department. Since this position requires me to keep my knowledge up to date in order to run different campaigns effectively, I have decided to enrol in a part-time university programme. However, some of my classes will take place during my current working hours.

At present, I work from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. However, I have classes three times a week, starting at 5 p.m. In order to reach the university on time, I would need to leave work at 4 p.m. Therefore, I would greatly appreciate it if you could adjust my schedule so that I work from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

I believe that my studies would also benefit the company, as I would be able to apply the knowledge I gain to improve our marketing strategies and increase the effectiveness of our campaigns. In the long term, this could help us attract more customers and boost the company's revenue.

Kind regards,

Elena

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

You have fully addressed all three bullet points of the task. You clearly explained the reason for the request (part-time university studies), specified the desired working hours (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays), and provided a persuasive argument regarding how your studies would benefit the employer. The tone is consistently professional and appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. The purpose of the letter is clear from the outset, and the ideas are well-developed and relevant to the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the request to the explanation, the specific details, and finally the benefits. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'As you are no doubt aware', 'However', and 'Therefore', which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is skilful and contributes to the overall clarity of the message. The flow between sentences is natural and professional.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for a professional context. Phrases such as 'pursue part-time studies', 'keep my knowledge up to date', and 'increase the effectiveness of our campaigns' show a high level of lexical control. The word choices are accurate and contribute to a formal, persuasive tone. There are no noticeable errors in collocation or word choice, and the language used is natural and sophisticated throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

Your writing displays a high level of grammatical accuracy and a good variety of complex structures. You successfully use conditional sentences ('if you could adjust'), relative clauses ('which requires me to'), and complex sentence structures to convey your message clearly. The punctuation is accurate, and there are no significant grammatical errors. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and aspect is consistent with the requirements of the task.

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