Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

Dear Mr. Matt,

I am writing to request a temporary reduction in my working hour so I can pursue my part-time professional course in software quality assurance. I believe that this course will help me to develop skills both for my career and for our company.

This program will begin next month and will run for six months. Most of its classes are scheduled in the afternoon which could be difficult for me to attend while working full-time. Therefore, I would be grateful If i could reduce my working hours from 40 hours to 30 hours per week. I would like to work from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday, which could allow me to attend classes in afternoon without affecting my punctuality or productivity.

I am confident that this course will also benefit to our company. This course focus on advance software techniques, artificial intelligence, test automation and quality assurance tools which are related to my current role. After completing this course i will be able to apply these newly acquired skills to improve testing efficiency, identify defects more effectively and contribute to the successful delivery of high quality software. I would also be happy to share my knowledge with my other team members through informal training session if required.

I sincerely hope you will consider my request. I would greatly appreciate your support and would be happy to discuss this matter with you at your convenience.

yours sincerely

Baljeet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have fully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained the reason for the request, specified the desired working hours, and provided a compelling argument regarding how your studies would benefit your employer. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a supervisor, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, showing a good understanding of the task requirements. No parts of the prompt were omitted, and the letter maintains a professional and persuasive tone throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a professional closing. Each paragraph focuses on a distinct aspect of the request, which aids readability. You have used cohesive devices such as 'Therefore', 'I am confident that', and 'After completing this course' to link your ideas effectively. The progression of information is smooth, moving from the request to the logistics and finally the benefits. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different sections of the letter, ensuring the reader can follow your argument without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a professional context, such as 'pursue', 'punctuality', 'productivity', and 'testing efficiency'. There is an attempt to use topic-specific terminology like 'software quality assurance' and 'test automation'. While there are minor errors, such as 'benefit to our company' (should be 'benefit our company') and 'advance software techniques' (should be 'advanced'), these do not impede communication. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your message clearly and professionally, demonstrating a solid command of language suitable for this task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good control of complex sentence structures, such as using conditional clauses and relative clauses. Most sentences are error-free, though there are some minor slips, such as 'working hour' (should be plural 'hours'), 'If i could' (capitalization error), and 'course focus' (should be 'course focuses'). Punctuation is generally accurate, though there are occasional lapses. Despite these minor errors, the majority of your sentences are accurate, and your grammatical range is sufficient to express complex ideas clearly. The errors are non-systematic and do not interfere with the overall clarity of your request.

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

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