Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-03

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 9.0)

Dear Mr. Johnson,

I am writing to formally request a reduction in my working hours so that I can pursue a part-time study program.

I have recently been accepted into a professional training course that will take place during the week. Balancing a full-time workload with these studies will be challenging, so reducing my work schedule will allow me to attend my classes and dedicate sufficient time to my coursework while maintaining high quality in my daily work.

Ideally, I would like to adjust my schedule from forty hours to thirty hours per week. I propose working six hours a day from Monday to Friday, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. This schedule will ensure that I am present during our busiest morning hours to handle core responsibilities and team meetings.

I believe this course will bring direct benefits to the company. The program focuses on advanced digital management skills, which will enable me to streamline our team's daily processes and improve overall efficiency. Additionally, the new techniques I learn will allow me to take on higher-level responsibilities, reducing the workload on senior team members.

Thank you for considering my request. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this proposal further with you during our next meeting.

Yours sincerely,

Jennifer

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The letter fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request (professional training), specify the desired hours (30 hours per week, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM), 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 presented, ensuring the reader understands both your needs and the value you continue to bring to the company. The response is well-structured and meets all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the request, starting with the purpose, moving to the logistics, and concluding with the benefits. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'so', and 'consequently' (implied) are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The opening and closing are standard and appropriate for a formal letter. The flow of information is smooth, and the paragraphing is used effectively to separate distinct points, making the letter easy to follow and professional in appearance.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for a professional context. Phrases such as 'formally request', 'pursue a part-time study program', 'streamline our team's daily processes', and 'core responsibilities' show a high level of lexical control. The language is natural and sophisticated, fitting the formal register required for this task. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary used is both accurate and varied, contributing to the overall clarity and professional tone of the correspondence.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The letter exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You successfully use complex sentences, such as 'Balancing a full-time workload with these studies will be challenging, so reducing my work schedule will allow me to...', without any errors. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and the verb tenses are consistent and appropriate. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over complex structures is impressive. There are no noticeable grammatical slips, and the writing is fluent and precise, meeting the criteria for a high band score.

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

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