Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-21

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,

Good day to you. I am writing this letter to kindly request for a reduction in my working hours.

I recently got admission in the university, to study a part-time course in Business Management. Having a degree in Business Management has always been my dream and I am optimistic on the outcome of this new chapter.

My lecture days are Thursday to Saturday, and my lecture hours is from 2pm to 6pm. Following my lecture schedule, I would like to work from 8am to 12pm on Thursdays and Fridays. This would give me adequate time to commute to my school and settle in before lectures commences.

This new study chapter will not only benefit me but the entire organization as well. Business management will equip me with skills on how to effectively manage the company and draw in more clients. It will also help the company smash all the outlined goals successfully. They will also educate me on effective communication skills which will help for successful conflict resolution within the company.

Thank you very much for your time. I will be awaiting your feedback.

Yours faithfully,

Osahon Abigail

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request (university studies), specify the desired working hours (8am to 12pm on Thursdays and Fridays), and provide a logical argument for how the employer will benefit from your new skills. The tone is appropriate for a formal business letter. The ideas are well-developed, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning. To reach a higher band, ensure that the connection between your studies and the specific needs of your current employer is even more explicitly linked to show a deeper understanding of the professional context.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph focuses on a distinct aspect of the request, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use appropriate cohesive devices such as 'Following my lecture schedule' and 'This new study chapter' to link ideas. The opening and closing are standard and professional. To improve further, you could vary your transition words slightly more to avoid repetitive sentence structures, but overall, the flow of information is smooth and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'adequately time to commute' and 'effectively manage' are used correctly. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in collocation and word choice, such as 'got admission in the university' (should be 'was admitted to university') and 'smash all the outlined goals' (which is too informal for a formal letter). Using more precise professional terminology would elevate your score. Overall, your vocabulary is adequate for the task, but more sophisticated and precise word choices would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. While the majority of your sentences are clear, there are a few grammatical slips. For example, 'lecture hours is' should be 'lecture hours are' (subject-verb agreement), and 'before lectures commences' should be 'before lectures commence'. Additionally, 'request for a reduction' is slightly redundant; 'request a reduction' is more natural. Despite these minor errors, your meaning is never obscured, and the grammar is generally controlled. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and avoiding unnecessary prepositions will help you achieve a higher band.

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

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