Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · 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 8.5)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours as I have recently enrolled in a part-time course that is closely related to my professional responsibilities.

The main reason for this request is that my current full-time schedule leaves me with very limited time to attend classes and complete the required coursework. I believe that reducing my working hours temporarily would allow me to balance my studies with my professional commitments without affecting the quality of my work.

Ideally, I would like to work from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. This schedule would enable me to attend my classes in the late afternoon and devote sufficient time to studying in the evening. I would, of course, ensure that all my assigned responsibilities are completed within my working hours.

I also believe that my studies would be beneficial to the company in the long term. The course will help me develop my knowledge and practical skills in areas directly relevant to my position. I would be able to apply what I learn to my daily responsibilities, potentially improving the efficiency and quality of my work. Moreover, the new skills and knowledge I gain could be shared with colleagues and contribute to the overall development of the team.

I would be grateful if you could consider my request. I am happy to discuss the proposed schedule and make any necessary adjustments to ensure that the needs of the company continue to be met.

Yours faithfully,

Salman Abbas

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request (enrolling in a part-time course), specify the desired working hours (9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.), and provide a persuasive argument regarding how the employer will benefit from your studies. The tone is consistently professional and appropriate for a formal letter to a supervisor. The ideas are well-developed and logically extended, demonstrating a clear understanding of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'The main reason for this request', 'Moreover', and 'In the long term', which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is skillful and contributes to the overall clarity of the message.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

The vocabulary is precise, natural, and well-suited to a professional context. You demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary with sophisticated control, using terms like 'professional responsibilities', 'professional commitments', and 'contribute to the overall development'. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language flows naturally throughout the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You successfully use complex sentence forms, such as conditional structures ('I would be grateful if you could...') and relative clauses ('a part-time course that is closely related to...'). Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no grammatical errors that impede communication. The control over tense and aspect is excellent throughout the text.

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

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