Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-03

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 Mr. Nabeel,

I am writing to you regarding my reduced availability during office hours. I have been accepted in evening MBA program at Karachi University. I would like to explain the circumstances in detail and outline its importance for you consideration.

Initially, my class will start at 6PM on weekdays. Therefore, I would have to leave office by 4PM instead of 5PM. As you are aware that commute from office to Karachi University will take more or less 90minutes to 100minutes. To make up for my reduced schedule, I propose to work on Saturdays and will be fully available either in office or will work from home; whichever you suggest.

Additionally, as i am a part of sales operations team, this degree will help me enhance my skills as well as open new horizons from me to grow professionally. Consequently, I would be able to contribute positively towards my job and will implement my learned knowledge in our organization. The knowledge I gain will enable us to grow and prosper collectively.

I hope information I provided gives you a clear understanding of the situation. I would appreciate your response regarding reduced working hours and confirmation of in person or work from home option.

Thank you for your time.

Best Regards,

Syed Shaneel Ahmed

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

You address all three requested points and maintain a clear, appropriately formal purpose. You explain that the evening MBA begins at 6 p.m. and that the commute requires you to leave by 4 p.m.; you also propose Saturday work and describe how the qualification could strengthen your contribution to the sales operations team. These details make the request understandable and relevant. The benefits to the employer are present, though claims such as helping the organisation “grow and prosper collectively” remain broad. To develop the ideas further, specify a practical arrangement—for example, the number of Saturday hours or particular skills from the MBA that would support your work. This would make an already complete response more fully supported and persuasive.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter has a clear progression: it introduces the request, explains the timetable and proposed adjustment, then discusses the employer’s benefit before closing politely. Paragraphing supports this sequence, and linking expressions such as “Therefore,” “Additionally,” and “Consequently” help show relationships between ideas. The organisation is generally easy to follow, although some transitions feel formulaic, and the final paragraph repeats the request for confirmation without adding much new information. The sentence beginning “To make up for my reduced schedule” clearly signals a solution, but the Saturday arrangement could be separated or stated more directly. For stronger cohesion, use a slightly wider range of natural links and ensure each paragraph advances the request rather than restating it.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of formal and workplace-related vocabulary, including “reduced availability,” “enhance my skills,” “contribute positively,” and “implement my learned knowledge.” These choices communicate the main ideas, and the tone is suitable for writing to a manager. There are also some imprecise or unnatural collocations: “accepted in evening MBA program,” “for you consideration,” and “open new horizons from me” do not sound idiomatic. “More or less 90minutes to 100minutes” is also an awkward way to express an estimated commute. Greater control of collocation and more precise phrasing would make the letter sound more fluent and professional. Check spacing and capitalisation as well, such as “90 minutes” and “I.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including the cause-and-effect structure in “Therefore, I would have to leave office by 4PM” and the conditional proposal about working Saturdays. Meaning remains clear throughout. Some grammatical errors persist, however: “I have been accepted in evening MBA program” needs an article and a different preposition, while “As you are aware that commute…” has an incorrect clause structure and missing article. In “I would be fully available either in office or will work from home,” the parallel structure is not maintained. Capitalisation and punctuation also need attention, particularly “i” and the spacing around times. Review articles, prepositions, and parallel constructions to make the complex sentences more consistently accurate.

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