Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-20

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 7.5)

Hello Paul,

I hope you find this letter well. I am writing to sincerely requesting for the reduction in my working hours for next six months.

The main reason for making my hours less is that I am considering starting a part-time course in Payroll Administration for improving my skills. I wanted to study this course a long ago, however my financial circumstances always prevented me to fulfil my desire.

I would highly appreciate you, if you could authorize me to work from Thursday to Sunday. If it happens, I will be able to join my classes for the course rest of the days. I tried to modify my course schedule, unfortunately it wouldn't be possible for the institute as they are only open in working days of the week. Therefore, the only option left is changing my working hours.

Needless to say, my skills not only add a bonus to my resume but could also become a benefit for your business. As you already know, hiring a private payroll manager costs a lot more than having an employee in the company who can do a multi-tasking job. I really like working in this company and hoping to stay with you.

I hope you understand my situation and would be able to change my schedule for a short time period. I look forward to hearing for your decision.

Yours faithfully,

Aman

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request (Payroll Administration course), specify the desired working hours (Thursday to Sunday), and articulate the benefits to your employer (in-house payroll expertise). The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a manager, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and logically presented, ensuring the reader understands your situation and the value you bring to the company. You have fully satisfied the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a formal conclusion. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'Therefore', 'Needless to say', and 'As you already know' to link your ideas. While the transition between the second and third paragraphs is logical, some of the sentence-level connections are slightly mechanical. However, the overall progression of information is smooth and the paragraphing is used effectively to structure the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message with precision. Phrases like 'financial circumstances', 'authorize me', and 'multi-tasking job' are used appropriately. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'requesting for the reduction' (should be 'requesting a reduction') and 'hearing for your decision' (should be 'hearing about your decision'). Despite these minor inaccuracies, your vocabulary is varied enough to express complex ideas clearly, and the errors do not impede communication or cause confusion for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures throughout the letter. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'I hope you find this letter well' (should be 'I hope this letter finds you well'), 'I wanted to study this course a long ago' (should be 'a long time ago'), and 'it wouldn't be possible' (should be 'it would not be possible'). While these errors are noticeable, the majority of your sentences are clear and error-free. You show good control over complex structures, and the punctuation is generally accurate, which supports the overall readability of your writing.

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

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