Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-23

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/ Madam,

I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours because I would like to study part-time. I believe that continuing an education will help me to develop my inner personal skills, confidence and knowledge as well.

I would be grateful if I could reduce my working hours from approximately 25-30 hours per week. Ideally, I would like to work 9am to 3pm, which allows me to attend my classes and complete my studies.

I believe that with continuing my studies, I would implement my knowledge in my work and take on my responsibilities at work and contribute more ideas as well. Furthermore, continuing my personal development would enable me to become a more valuable and skilled employee.

I would appreciate if you could consider my request. I would be committed to attending my education and try my best to contribute a high standard of work and smooth transition to the work with my new schedule.

Thank you for understanding. I expect a response in 2-3 days. Please contact me at email and my personal contact number for further clarification.

Yours sincerely,

Arun

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request, specify the desired hours, and outline the benefits to the employer. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. However, the development of the third point regarding benefits could be more specific; while you mention 'implementing knowledge,' providing a concrete example of how your studies relate to your current role would have strengthened the argument. Overall, the purpose of the letter is clear and the requirements are fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the request. You use cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore' and 'In addition' to link ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter. To improve, ensure that the flow between sentences is smoother; for instance, the transition between your request for hours and the benefits to the company could be more fluidly connected.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'reduction,' 'approximately,' and 'contribute.' The language is generally natural and appropriate for a professional context. There are some minor issues with collocation, such as 'continuing an education' (usually 'pursuing further education') and 'smooth transition to the work' (which is slightly awkward). While you successfully convey your meaning, incorporating more precise professional terminology would elevate the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'I would be grateful if I could...' and 'I believe that with continuing my studies, I would...'. Most sentences are clear and error-free. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'I expect a response in 2-3 days,' which sounds slightly demanding for a formal request; a more polite modal construction like 'I would appreciate a response' would be better. Punctuation is generally accurate, and the errors present do not impede communication.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.