Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-29

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 7.5)

Dear Mr Barry,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to request a reduction in the number of hours I will be working in the customer success team.

I recently gained admission at the University of Lagos to study for a diploma in cybersecurity. It is a part-time programme and I am required to attend classes for at least 24 hours in a week. I understand that my request may come as a surprise but I was not expecting the admission so quickly.

My classes are mostly in the afternoons and I would like to work from eight in the morning to twelve at noon before resuming classes at the university. I am well aware that this will reflect in my monthly pay based on the number of hours I will be working going forward.

With a diploma in cybersecurity, I believe that I can contribute to the information security team by providing suggestions about how to better secure client's private information. I can work with Mr Sam who will supervise me and he can give you daily reports about my progress.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Oyinloluwa Akinsipe

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response effectively covers all bullet points required in the task instructions in an appropriate semi-formal tone. You clearly explained your reasons for wanting to reduce your hours, stating that you gained admission to study a diploma in cybersecurity at the University of Lagos. Furthermore, you specified the exact hours you would like to work, mentioning from eight in the morning to twelve at noon. You also successfully described how your part-time studies would benefit your employer, noting that you could contribute to the information security team by providing suggestions to better secure client information. The purpose of the letter is clear throughout, and the ideas are well developed with relevant details, meeting all the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The letter exhibits a clear logical progression from the opening greeting to the final sign-off. Ideas are logically sequenced across well-defined paragraphs that each serve a distinct purpose, such as introducing the request, providing details about the studies, proposing specific working hours, and outlining the benefits to the employer. Cohesive devices like 'I understand that', 'My classes are mostly', and 'With a diploma in cybersecurity' are managed appropriately and naturally connect the information. Referencing and paragraphing are used sufficiently and appropriately, resulting in a cohesive piece of correspondence.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The vocabulary used is appropriate and sufficient for a General Training letter. You successfully attempted less common items and subject-specific vocabulary, such as 'admission', 'cybersecurity', 'customer success team', and 'information security team'. Word choice is generally precise, with only minor occurrences of awkward phrasing, such as 'gained admission at' instead of 'gained admission to'. Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the letter, which allows the communication to proceed smoothly and clearly without causing any confusion for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a good control of grammar and punctuation, utilising a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Examples of complex structures include 'I understand that my request may come as a surprise but I was not expecting the admission so quickly' and 'With a diploma in cybersecurity, I believe that I can contribute...'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and any minor mechanical issues do not impede communication. Punctuation and verb tenses are handled securely throughout the letter.

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