Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-02

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. Pratik,

I am writing to formally request you for reducing working hours as I want to enrol in a part-time study at Algoma University in Brampton, Ontario. Having limited hours at work would help me focus entirely on my studies, as I am going to have certificate in professional skills.

I would like to work for 20 hours during weekends, as I would have day off on Saturdays and Sundays from my college. In addition, I want to work in evenings from 6 P.M to 12 P.M because I can concentrate more on my study in the morning time.

Moving further, my part-time study would be beneficial for your organisation because currently I work as business administration at your office. The course will help me develop communication, problem- solving, and organisational skills; therefore, I can perform my responsibilities more effectively in the future.

I am looking forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely,

Prabhjeet Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request (enrolling in part-time studies), specify the desired working hours (weekends and evenings), and articulate the benefits to your employer (developing communication and organizational skills). The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a manager. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring the reader understands both your personal goals and the professional value you bring to the organization. The letter is well-structured and fulfills all the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific requirement of the prompt. You use appropriate cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Moving further', and 'therefore' to link your ideas. The progression of the letter is clear, moving from the request to the schedule and finally to the benefits. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate distinct points. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be slightly more sophisticated to reach a higher band, but the overall structure is clear and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task. Phrases like 'formally request', 'at your earliest convenience', and 'perform my responsibilities' are appropriate for a professional context. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'I am going to have certificate' (should be 'I am going to earn a certificate') and 'I work as business administration' (should be 'I work in business administration'). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the vocabulary from being considered highly flexible or precise. Expanding your range of collocations would help elevate your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'request you for reducing' (should be 'request a reduction in') and 'concentrate more on my study in the morning time' (should be 'concentrate more on my studies in the morning'). Additionally, '12 P.M' is technically noon, whereas you likely meant midnight (12 A.M.). Despite these errors, the meaning is always clear, and the grammar does not hinder the reader's understanding. To improve, focus on preposition usage and ensuring consistent verb forms when discussing future plans.

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

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