Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · 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 9.0)

Dear Johnson,

I hope you are doing well.

I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours at ProActive Physiotherapy Clinic in Delta. I have been working as a Physiotherapist Assistant at the clinic for the past four years, and I sincerely appreciate the experience and support I have received during this time.

As you may already know, I recently passed my licensing examination, and I am now planning to pursue a Master’s degree in Orthopaedics to further enhance my professional knowledge and career prospects. My classes are scheduled to begin in approximately two weeks and will take place from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

In view of my academic commitments, I would greatly appreciate it if my current 40-hour work week could be reduced to 20 hours per week. I would be available to work during the evenings after my classes, and I would make every effort to maintain the same level of professionalism and commitment that I have demonstrated throughout my employment.

I believe this arrangement would be mutually beneficial. Continuing to work at the clinic would allow me to strengthen my practical skills and gain valuable hands-on experience, while my postgraduate studies would further develop my theoretical knowledge and clinical expertise. I hope that, in the future, I will be able to apply this enhanced knowledge and contribute even more effectively to the clinic and its patients.

Thank you very much for considering my request. I greatly value my position at ProActive Physiotherapy Clinic and hope to continue being a part of the team while pursuing my further education.

Yours sincerely,

Simran Sharma

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

You have fully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained the reason for the request (pursuing a Master’s degree), specified the desired hours (20 hours per week in the evenings), and articulated how the employer would benefit from your continued employment and enhanced clinical expertise. The tone is professional, polite, and appropriate for a formal letter to a supervisor. The purpose of the letter is clear from the outset, and the ideas are well-developed and logically presented throughout the response. You have successfully fulfilled all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the request to the justification and finally to the mutual benefits. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In view of my academic commitments' and 'I believe this arrangement would be mutually beneficial,' which help to connect your thoughts seamlessly. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the letter follows a standard professional structure, making it very easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for a professional context. Phrases such as 'further enhance my professional knowledge,' 'academic commitments,' and 'clinical expertise' show a high level of lexical control. The language is natural and sophisticated, fitting the context of a formal request to an employer. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary used is both accurate and varied, contributing to the overall professional tone of the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

Your writing displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You use complex sentences effectively, such as 'Continuing to work at the clinic would allow me to strengthen my practical skills... while my postgraduate studies would further develop my theoretical knowledge.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable grammatical errors. The control over verb tenses and sentence construction is excellent, and the writing flows naturally without any slips that would impede communication or distract the reader.

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