Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am writing to express my interest in pursuing further studies in project management. As you are well-known about recent immigration changes by IRCC, to pursue 6 months of studies while on a work permit, without the need for a study visa. Hence, I made up my mind to polish my skill set by pursuing this course.

Earlier, I was planning on enrolling in some online courses, but due to limited availability, these classes are only available in-person. As I am working full-time for almost 47 hours per week, it would not be possible to attend the course. I humbly request that you allow me weekends off so I can enrol in the part-time classes held on Saturdays and Sundays.

This course is about using AI for businesses to improve sales. I believe it is essential to take full advantage of AI nowadays to flourish your business and stay one step ahead of your counterparts. I would suggest we encourage everyone in our team to opt for this course to improve sales pitches, as we know it is one of the prominent aspects in the construction world.

I hope to hear back from you soon. Please give it some thought and let me know at your earliest convenience.

Your sincerely,

NAV.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the specific hours desired, and the benefits to the employer. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter to a boss. However, the explanation regarding the immigration changes is slightly confusing and could be more concise to focus on the professional benefits. The request for weekends off is clear, and the connection between the AI course and the company's sales performance is well-articulated, demonstrating a clear understanding of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each serving a distinct purpose. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'Hence', 'Earlier', and 'I believe' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. However, some transitions could be smoother; for instance, the jump from immigration rules to the specific course details is a bit abrupt. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the letter maintains a consistent focus throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally appropriate for a formal business context, with some good collocations like 'polish my skill set', 'stay one step ahead', and 'prominent aspects'. There are some minor awkward phrasings, such as 'As you are well-known about', which should be 'As you are well aware of'. While the range is sufficient to convey the message clearly, it lacks the more sophisticated, nuanced vocabulary that would push the score into the higher bands. The word choices are functional and accurate enough for the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The letter uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'As you are well-known about recent immigration changes... to pursue 6 months of studies', which is a sentence fragment. Additionally, 'Your sincerely' is a common error for 'Yours sincerely'. Despite these slips, the meaning is never obscured, and the majority of the sentences are clear and grammatically sound. The control of punctuation is generally good, though the sentence structure in the opening paragraph needs refinement.

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

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