Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-11

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 Manager,

I am writing to ask if I could reduce my working hours because I would like to study part-time. Continuing my education is very important to me, but I also want to continue working for the company.

I would like to reduce my schedule to around 20 hours per week. I am available to work in the evenings and on weekends. I can also be flexible with my working days when the company needs extra help. This schedule would give me enough time to attend my classes, complete assignments, and prepare for exams.

My part-time studies will also benefit the company. I will gain new knowledge, improve my communication and problem-solving skills, and become more confident. I can use these skills in my job and provide better service to customers and coworkers.

I hope you will consider my request. Thank you for your time and understanding. I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Yatin

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 (part-time study), specify the desired hours (20 hours per week, evenings/weekends), and provide a logical explanation of how the employer will benefit from your improved skills. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, ensuring the reader understands your position and the value you bring to the company. The response is focused and maintains a professional tone throughout, meeting all requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the request, which makes the information easy to follow. You use appropriate paragraphing and transition phrases such as 'I am writing to ask if' and 'My part-time studies will also benefit the company' to guide the reader. Cohesive devices are used naturally, and the referencing is clear throughout. The structure is coherent, and the flow of ideas is smooth, which is characteristic of a high-level response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly and professionally. Phrases like 'continuing my education', 'flexible with my working days', and 'provide better service' are accurate and appropriate for the context. While the vocabulary is functional and precise, it lacks a few more sophisticated or 'less common' lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. However, there are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is natural and fits the formal tone of the letter perfectly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The grammar is highly accurate, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use modal verbs correctly (e.g., 'could reduce', 'would like to') and maintain consistent tense usage. The punctuation is correct, and there are no noticeable grammatical errors. While the sentence structures are generally straightforward, they are error-free and effectively communicate your intent. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or more varied subordinate clauses, but the current control is excellent.

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

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