Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-26

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 Smith,

I am writing to ask if it would be possible to reduce my working hours for the next twelve months, as I have decided to study for a part-time Diploma in Business Management.

I have been considering this course for some time because I believe it will help me develop leadership and project management skills. Since the classes are held in the evenings during the week, I will need to reduce my working hours in order to attend lectures.

If possible, I would like to work in mornings from 9-1 during weekdays only, which would provide me adqeuate time to attend the evening classes in weekdays and complete assignments over the weekend.

I believe my studies will benefit the company as well. I can also help the assistant manager in her day-to-day duties. I am sure this course will help me develop strong management skills, which will enable me to improve my perform and contribute more effectively to the comapany.

I would be grateful if you could consider my request. I look forward to hearing back from you.

Kind regards,

Rashpal Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain the motivation for the request (the Diploma in Business Management), specify the desired working hours (9-1, weekdays), and articulate the benefits to the employer, such as improved leadership and project management skills. The tone is consistently professional and appropriate for a formal request to a manager. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. No parts of the task are omitted, and the response maintains a formal register throughout, which is essential for this type of correspondence.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the request to the justification, the specific details, and finally the benefits. Cohesive devices such as 'If possible', 'Since', and 'I believe' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is smooth, making the letter easy to follow. There is a clear sense of structure, and the transition between the request and the supporting arguments is handled naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a professional context, such as 'leadership', 'project management', and 'effectively'. However, there are a few minor spelling errors, such as 'adqeuate' (adequate) and 'comapany' (company), and a slight word-choice error with 'perform' (should be 'performance'). Despite these minor slips, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly and professionally. The range is adequate for the task, and the errors do not impede communication or detract significantly from the overall quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The letter uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. You successfully use conditional structures ('If possible, I would like...') and complex sentences to explain your reasoning. There are very occasional minor errors, such as 'in mornings' (should be 'in the mornings') and 'in weekdays' (should be 'on weekdays'). These are non-systematic and do not interfere with the clarity of your message. The control of punctuation and sentence boundaries is strong throughout the letter.

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

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