Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-09

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 Dr Khan,

I am writing to request you to reduce my working hours, so I can study part-time.

Let me explain myself. I have recently taken admission in a master's program offered by the University of Toronto. Since it is an executive masters, so it has classes only on the weekends from 4pm to 10 pm.

It would be really kind of you if you can facilitate me by reducing my working hours from 8am to 2pm on the weekends. This will help me to reach home by 3pm, and then I can prepare to leave for my classes by 3:30pm. However, on the weekdays I will make sure that I complete my working hours from 8am to 5pm.

I believe that this part-time study program will enhance my marketing skills, as my major subjects in this study course will be marketing and finance. The marketing skills I will acquire during my study will ultimately prove to be beneficial for your company, as I will be better able to handle the marketing projects of the company. Moreover, learning from highly skilled professionals in bussiness field will further groom my personality.

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Sara

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The letter covers all three required points clearly and develops them well. You explain that you have enrolled in a master’s programme, specify the weekend hours you are requesting, and show how stronger marketing skills could help you handle company projects. The weekday commitment also reassures your boss that your work will continue. These details make the request persuasive and relevant. To make the explanation even more complete, clarify whether the proposed 8 a.m.–2 p.m. weekend shift is a change to your current schedule or a reduction in the total hours you work. Overall, the purpose and benefits are clear, with only a small point about the arrangement left implicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The information follows a sensible progression: you state the request, explain your study plans, propose a schedule, and then describe the employer’s benefit. Paragraphing separates the main stages effectively, and transitions such as “Moreover” and “However” help connect ideas. The sequence from finishing work at 2 p.m. to reaching home and preparing for class also makes the schedule easy to follow. Some linking is slightly formulaic, particularly “Let me explain myself,” and “However” does not express a strong contrast between the weekend request and weekday commitment. A more direct transition, such as “I would continue working my usual weekday hours,” would make the relationship between these details more precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of vocabulary for a formal workplace request, including “facilitate,” “enhance my marketing skills,” and “beneficial for your company.” These choices communicate the main ideas clearly, and the marketing-related vocabulary is relevant to your argument. However, some expressions are awkward or imprecise: “taken admission” is not the natural collocation, “executive masters” is unclear, and “groom my personality” sounds unnatural in this context. There is also a spelling error in “bussiness.” These slips do not prevent understanding, but they limit the naturalness and precision of the vocabulary. Aim for conventional collocations and check spelling, especially in a formal letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The letter includes a useful mix of simple and complex sentences, and several are controlled well, such as “The marketing skills I will acquire during my study will ultimately prove to be beneficial for your company.” The schedule explanation also uses time clauses and purpose effectively. A few grammatical issues remain: “I am writing to request you to reduce” needs a different construction, and “Since it is an executive masters, so…” incorrectly combines two ways of introducing a reason. In “if you can facilitate me,” the conditional form is less appropriate for a polite request than “could.” These errors are noticeable but the message remains clear. Review verb patterns and avoid doubling conjunctions when forming complex sentences.

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