Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter to request a switch to a part-time role for the next six months. I am enrolling in part-time school to get a license as a pharmacy technician. Although I will be working in the same role, I will not be able to do full time hours.

I have also received my school schedule for the next six months. After carefully reviewing my class timings, I figured that I have only four days of limited availability. This includes Monday to Wednesday and Saturday. So, I am available to work during those days, preferably in the morning hours.

While I apologize for the inconvenience, I think this amazing opportunity will not only help me personally but also help me in my future role in our company. As Jack will be retiring next year, we will eventually need a new pharmacy technician. Graduating from this course will help me become a licensed technician and take on a new role as a technician. This will prevent the disruption of workflow after Jack's retirement.

Let me know my new schedule once you receive this.

Yours sincerely,

PP

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request (pharmacy technician studies), specify the desired working hours (Monday to Wednesday and Saturday, mornings), and provide a logical benefit to the employer (filling the vacancy left by Jack’s retirement). The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a supervisor. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. To reach a higher band, you could provide slightly more detail regarding how the specific skills learned in the course will directly enhance your current performance, but overall, the task requirements are fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the request, the scheduling details, and the benefits to the company. You use cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'While', and 'This includes' to link ideas effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter. The flow is smooth, and the reader can easily follow your argument. The use of referencing (e.g., 'This will prevent...') is accurate and helps maintain the logical flow of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'enrolling', 'availability', 'inconvenience', and 'disruption of workflow'. The word choice is generally precise and appropriate for a professional context. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it lacks a wider range of sophisticated or less common lexical items that would be expected for a higher band score. However, there are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication, and the tone remains consistently professional throughout the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. For example, the use of subordinate clauses in 'Although I will be working in the same role, I will not be able to do full time hours' shows good control. There are very few grammatical errors, and the punctuation is generally accurate. The sentences are clear and easy to read. To improve further, you could incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice or conditional sentences, to demonstrate greater flexibility in your writing.

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

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