Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to formally request a reduction in my working hours, effective [Start Date], as I have decided to pursue part-time studies to further my professional development.

I have enrolled in a [Name of Course/Program] at [Institution Name], which requires me to attend classes and complete coursework outside of my current full-time schedule. To balance these academic commitments with my responsibilities at the company, I would like to propose moving to a part-time schedule of [Number] hours per week. Ideally, I would like to work [specify days/hours, e.g., Monday through Wednesday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM].

I am fully committed to ensuring that this transition does not negatively impact the team or my current projects. I am happy to discuss how we can reorganize my workload or delegate specific tasks to ensure all deadlines continue to be met.

I believe that these studies will be highly beneficial to the company. The curriculum focuses on [mention specific skill, e.g., advanced data analytics/project management/technical software], which will allow me to bring fresh insights and more efficient methods to my work. I look forward to applying these new skills directly to our upcoming projects and contributing even more effectively to the team’s success.

Thank you for considering my request. I am happy to discuss this further at your earliest convenience and am open to exploring a trial period to ensure that this arrangement works well for everyone.

Sincerely,

DK

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly explained the reason for the request, specified the desired hours, and articulated the benefits to the employer. The tone is professional and appropriate for a formal letter to a supervisor. The ideas are well-developed, and the structure follows the requirements of a formal request letter perfectly. The inclusion of placeholders for specific details is acceptable in this context, as it demonstrates a clear understanding of the task's requirements while maintaining a professional focus.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the request to the logistics, and finally to the benefits for the company. Cohesive devices such as 'To balance these academic commitments' and 'I believe that these studies' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is sufficient and appropriate, ensuring the reader can follow the argument without difficulty. The flow is smooth and professional throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for a formal business context. Phrases like 'formally request', 'professional development', 'academic commitments', and 'at your earliest convenience' are used accurately and appropriately. The language is precise and conveys the intended meaning without ambiguity. While the vocabulary is functional and professional, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more sophisticated collocations or nuanced expressions to reach the highest band, but the current level is more than sufficient for the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The grammatical control is excellent. You use a variety of complex sentence structures, such as conditional clauses ('If I were to...') and participial phrases, with high accuracy. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable errors in tense or agreement. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the overall control of grammar is consistent with a high level of proficiency. The writing is clear, concise, and grammatically sound.

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

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