Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-12

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 Sir,

I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours so that I can pursue part-time studies. I have recently enrolled in a course related to my professional field, and I believe that gaining additional qualifications will help me develop my skills and improve my career prospects.

Ideally, I would like to work from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, instead of my current schedule. This arrangement would allow me to attend classes in the late afternoon and spend sufficient time completing assignments and preparing for examinations.

I believe that my studies would also benefit the company. The course will help me develop up-to-date knowledge and practical skills that I can apply directly to my work. In particular, I expect to improve my problem-solving, communication and technical abilities. I would be able to share this knowledge with my colleagues and contribute more effectively to future projects.

I would be grateful if you could consider my request. I am happy to discuss the proposed working hours and make any necessary arrangements to ensure that my responsibilities continue to be handled effectively.

Yours faithfully,

Rutvik

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The candidate has fully and effectively addressed all parts of the prompt. In the first and second paragraphs, the letter clearly explains why the reduction in working hours is desired by mentioning enrollment in a professional course. It also explicitly states the preferred working hours as 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. Furthermore, the third paragraph successfully describes how these part-time studies will benefit the employer, highlighting upgraded technical skills, enhanced problem-solving abilities, and knowledge sharing with colleagues. The tone is appropriate for a formal business letter to a boss, and all bullet points from the task instructions are thoroughly covered and well-developed. Therefore, this response meets all criteria for a high band score in Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter exhibits clear logical organisation and progression from beginning to end. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose corresponding to the bullet points in the task instructions, ensuring a natural and easy-to-follow structure. Cohesive devices are used appropriately and effectively, such as 'Ideally, I would like to', 'This arrangement would', and 'In particular, I expect to'. Paragraphing is well-managed, with each paragraph introducing a new and distinct idea related to the request. Referencing is clear throughout, and the overall progression from stating the request to explaining hours, outlining benefits, and offering further discussion flows smoothly without any mechanical or awkward transitions.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and precise lexical range suitable for a formal workplace request. Less common and appropriate vocabulary items are used effectively, including phrases like 'pursue part-time studies', 'professional field', 'additional qualifications', and 'contribute more effectively'. Word choice and collocations are generally natural, such as 'complete assignments', 'prepare for examinations', and 'share this knowledge with my colleagues'. There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors, and the vocabulary used accurately conveys the intended message in a polite and professional tone. The range allows for sufficient precision to warrant a solid score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The writing displays a good variety of complex and compound sentence structures, such as 'I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours so that I can pursue part-time studies' and 'I would be grateful if you could consider my request.' The majority of the sentences are error-free, showcasing strong control over grammatical rules, verb tenses, and punctuation. Modals and conditional structures are used accurately to make polite requests and hypothetical projections. Punctuation and capitalization are handled correctly throughout the letter. The grammatical control is consistently strong, justifying a high band score in this category.

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

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