Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-28

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 Smith,

Hopefully you are in good spirits! My name is Sarah Gray, I work as a full-time shift supervisor at your Subway Store in New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada. I am writing this letter to get your permission to reduce my working hours.

Firstly, I am planning to take an accountant course this summer from Conestoga College, Waterloo. I was planning to do this course for quit some time, but this year I was finally able to take addmision in the part-time course.

Moreover, the duration for this course is six months, so I would be really greatfull if I can change my working hours. As per my college time table I cannot work on Monday and Tuesday, and rest days of the week I am flexible to take any shift.

Lastly, I would like to add that my part-time studies would really benefit the store, as our store accountant Stacy Jane is going on maternity leave from March, 2027. At that time I would complete my course and would be a great asset to replace her for time being.

I would be really appriciate if you would accept my request. Looking forward for your prompt responce.

Your sincerly, Date: 27 August 2026

Sarah Gray.

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 reason for the request (accounting studies), specify the desired schedule (Monday and Tuesday off), and provide a logical benefit to the employer (replacing the accountant on maternity leave). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, ensuring the reader understands your situation and the value you bring to the store. The purpose of the letter is clear from the outset, and all requirements are met effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each requirement, and a polite closing. You use transition signals such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', and 'Lastly' to guide the reader through your points. While the structure is sound, the flow could be slightly more sophisticated by varying the cohesive devices rather than relying heavily on simple sequence markers. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas, and the overall progression of the letter is easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a coherent response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. However, there are several spelling errors, such as 'greatfull' (grateful), 'addmision' (admission), 'appriciate' (appreciate), and 'responce' (response). Additionally, the phrase 'quit some time' should be 'quite some time'. While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading. To reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise word choices and ensure accuracy in spelling, especially with common professional terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'I am writing this letter to get your permission...' and 'At that time I would complete my course and would be a great asset...'. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'I would be really appriciate' (I would really appreciate) and 'replace her for time being' (replace her for the time being). Punctuation is generally functional, though the comma splice in the opening sentence ('...Sarah Gray, I work...') should be corrected with a period or semicolon. The grammar is generally accurate enough to ensure the meaning is clear.

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

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