Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-25

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. Kapoor,

Hope you are doing well.

I am writing this letter to you, to request a reduction in number of my working hours, as I am planning to start a part time course to learn Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills. It is only a 3 month course and I will be able to continue with the same hours after that.

My course timings are going to be 9 am to 12 pm, so my preference would be to start after 1 pm. That will give me sufficient time to get ready and commute to office. I understand that this could impact my work at office during the course. I can assure you that this is going to be a short-term setback, as this course will significantly improve my performance. After the completion of this course, I would be able to utilise the AI skills to improve the KPIs. Therefore, it could be a great return on the time invested.

Looking forward to a positive response.

Yours sincerely,

Adam Gilbert

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request (AI course), specify the desired hours (after 1 pm), and provide a persuasive argument regarding the benefits to the employer (improving KPIs). The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a manager. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly on the specific nature of the AI skills to make the benefit to the employer even more concrete and compelling.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body, and closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific requirement of the task, which aids readability. You use cohesive devices such as 'Therefore', 'as', and 'so' to link ideas effectively. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the request to the logistics and finally the justification. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter. To improve, ensure that transitions between sentences are varied to avoid a slightly mechanical feel in some places.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'reduction', 'sufficient', 'short-term setback', and 'utilise'. The language is professional and fits the context of a workplace request. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items related to professional development, such as 'professional advancement', 'mutually beneficial', or 'streamline operations'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The writing is generally accurate, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your control of punctuation is solid. There are minor slips, such as 'reduction in number of my working hours' (should be 'the number') and 'at office' (should be 'in the office'). These errors are infrequent and do not hinder understanding. To improve, focus on article usage and prepositional phrases to ensure complete grammatical precision in a formal context.

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

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