Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Dear Manager,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to request a reduction in working hours so that I can pursue part-time studies. I have recently enrolled in a professional course that will help me develop new skills and improve my knowledge in my field. I believe that continuing my education is important for my career growth and will enable me to perform duties more effectively.

To balance my work and studies, I would like to reduce my working hours from full time to part time. Ideally, from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Friday. This schedule allowed me to attened classes in the mornings and while continuing work in evenings.

My studies will be beneficial not only me but also for the organization. This course help me gain updated industry knowledge, improve my technical and problem solving skills, and increse my overall productivity. I will be able to apply what I learn directly to my work, which contribute the company's success and efficiency.

I would be grateful if you consider my request. I am willing to discuss alternative arrangements if it necessary.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to positive response.

Yours sincerely,

Neel Mistry.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained the reason for your request, specified your preferred working hours, and articulated the benefits to your employer. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, providing a logical flow that makes your request persuasive. To reach a higher band, you could provide slightly more specific detail regarding the course content or how your absence during the morning will be managed, which would further strengthen the professional nature of the request.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is well-organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph focuses on a single aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use some cohesive devices such as 'To balance my work and studies' and 'not only me but also for the organization' to connect ideas. However, the transition between sentences could be more varied. Some sentences feel slightly mechanical. To improve, ensure that your referencing is always precise and try to use a wider range of linking words to create a more natural flow between your points.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task, using professional terms like 'pursue part-time studies', 'professional course', and 'industry knowledge'. However, there are a few spelling errors ('attened', 'increse') and minor collocation issues ('contribute the company's success' should be 'contribute to the company's success'). While these do not impede communication, they prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for small spelling slips and ensuring prepositions are used correctly with verbs will help you achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. There are some grammatical slips, such as tense inconsistency in the second paragraph ('This schedule allowed me...' should be 'This schedule would allow me...') and missing articles or prepositions ('contribute the company's' should be 'contribute to the company's'). Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout the letter. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and ensure that your verb tenses remain consistent when discussing future arrangements.

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

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