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 Mr. Jonathan,

I am writing to request to convert my employment from full time to part time for six months. As discussed earlier I am planning to start my insurance level 1 licence course.

I always wanted to get this licence but due to my tight schedule I was never able to get the courage to study further. However, now I am pledged to persue this course and manage my job simultaneously.

My course is starting from 1st October, and my classes will be on Monday and Friday. I will be available from Tuesday to Thursday. Although my current working schedule has no weekends included. I am willing to work on weekends if the job demands.

I always want to expand my horizons and to grow in the insurance industry, I need to get the licence first. This licence will also be helpful for our firm as currently I am unable to suggest insurances to our clients because I don't have the licence.

I hope you will take my request in to consideration. Look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully

Tanmeet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request (pursuing an insurance license), specify the desired working hours (Tuesday to Thursday), and articulate the benefit to the employer (the ability to provide insurance advice to clients). The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a manager. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. To reach a higher band, you could provide slightly more detail on how the study schedule will be balanced with professional responsibilities to further reassure your employer.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the request, which makes the letter easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Although', and 'As discussed earlier' to link your thoughts. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. Additionally, the closing sentence 'Look forward to hearing from you' is slightly abrupt and would benefit from a more formal structure, such as 'I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.'

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'expand my horizons' and 'manage my job simultaneously' are used effectively. There are some minor errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'persue' (pursue) and 'suggest insurances' (provide insurance advice/recommendations). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more precise control over professional terminology. Expanding your vocabulary to include more specific business-related collocations would help elevate your writing to a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical slips. For example, 'I am pledged to persue' is slightly unnatural; 'I am committed to pursuing' would be more accurate. The sentence 'Although my current working schedule has no weekends included' is a bit clunky. Additionally, there are minor punctuation and article errors, such as 'insurance level 1 licence course' (an insurance level 1 license course). Despite these errors, the majority of your sentences are error-free, and the grammar does not hinder the reader's understanding.

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

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