Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-21

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 Gary,

I hope you are doing well.

I am writing this to request to reduce my working hours. As discussed earlier, I have decided to enrol in part time Artificial Intelligence (AI) couse, and this course is offered by University of Toronto.

This program is specifically desinged for working professionals, and to demonstrate how to integrate AI in their day to day operations. This course is offered online from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on weekdays. As my current working hours are from 9:00 am to 5:00pm, I would like to change it to 7:00 am to 3:00 pm to accomodate my part time learning. This operational hours will not be affecting my current commitements and responsibilities.

I strongly believe that this study will expand my skill horizon. In addition to this, with this new tooling and learnings, I can integrate AI in our existing system, which will improve our team's efficiency and performance. Also, I can transfer my knowledge within our team, and it would be great addition to our team's skill set.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Please feel free to reach out if you need any further information about this course.

Yours sincerely,

Jaivik Patel

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.5
Coherence and Cohesion7.5
Lexical Resource6.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy7.0
Overall7.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response covers all parts of the task thoroughly and appropriately. You successfully explain why you want to reduce your working hours by mentioning your enrollment in a part-time Artificial Intelligence course at the University of Toronto. You clearly specify the hours you would like to work, transitioning from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm to 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, and you effectively describe how your studies will benefit your employer through improved team efficiency, performance, and knowledge sharing. The tone is consistently polite and professional, suitable for a formal request to a boss. Ideas are well-developed and support the purpose of the letter without straying off-topic, meeting all bullet points of the prompt clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter exhibits a clear logical organisation and natural progression throughout. The paragraphs are structured purposefully, with an opening greeting, a statement of purpose, supporting details regarding hours and benefits, and a professional sign-off. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition to this', 'Also', and 'As my current working hours' are used effectively to guide the reader through the explanation and benefits of your request. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas, ensuring that the transitions between your personal study goals and the professional impacts on your employer remain smooth and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using business and educational terminology such as 'enrol in', 'operational hours', 'commitments', and 'skill horizon'. There are a few minor spelling slips, such as 'couse' instead of course and 'desinged' instead of designed, as well as a slight typographical error in 'accomodate' (accommodate). However, these minor inaccuracies do not impede communication. Less common lexical items are attempted with adequate awareness of style and collocation, reflecting a solid command of vocabulary overall.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The writing contains a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as conditional and subordinate clauses ('As discussed earlier, I have decided...', 'I strongly believe that this study will...'). Control over grammar is generally sound, featuring frequent error-free sentences. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'request to reduce' (request reducing or request a reduction in) and 'This operational hours will not be affecting' (These operational hours will not affect), but these errors do not impede understanding and punctuation is handled well throughout the letter.

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