Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-06

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

 

You started in your present job two years ago. You now feel it is important for your career development to move to a different department in the same company.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter

  • say what you have learned in your present job
  • suggest how the company would benefit from moving you to a different department
  • explain why you do not wish to leave the company

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ....................................,

Student answer (Band 8.0)

Dear Mr. Smith,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to express my interest in transferring to a different department within the company, as I believe it would help me achieve my long-term career goals.

Over the past two years, I have gained valuable experience in my current role. I have developed strong communication and problem-solving skills while working with clients and colleagues. In addition, I have learned how to manage multiple tasks efficiently and consistently meet deadlines, which has helped me grow both personally and professionally.

I believe the company would also benefit from this transfer. Since I have a good understanding of our products and internal processes, I can quickly adapt to a new department and contribute from the beginning. Moreover, my previous experience would allow me to work effectively with different teams and improve coordination between departments.

Although I would like to explore a new role, I have no intention of leaving the company. I truly enjoy the positive working environment, supportive management, and opportunities for professional development. I am grateful for everything I have learned here and would like to continue building my career within the organisation.

Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to discussing this opportunity with you.

Yours sincerely,

Axay Nayi

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response8.0
Coherence and Cohesion8.0
Lexical Resource7.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy8.0
Overall8.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly outline the skills gained in your current role, such as communication and task management. You provide a logical argument for how the company would benefit from your transfer, specifically mentioning your knowledge of internal processes. Finally, you explain your commitment to the company by highlighting the positive work environment. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager, and the purpose is clear throughout. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the task requirements, demonstrating a strong understanding of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph focuses on a specific requirement of the task, and the transition between ideas is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'Moreover', and 'Although', which help to link your arguments logically. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure follows the standard conventions of a formal business letter. The flow of information is natural, and the reader can easily follow your line of reasoning from the introduction to the conclusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for a professional context. Phrases like 'long-term career goals', 'internal processes', and 'contribute from the beginning' show a solid command of business-related language. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, it remains somewhat standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or nuanced expressions to elevate the tone further. However, the current range is sufficient to convey your meaning with precision and clarity, and there are no errors in word choice or spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your writing displays a high level of grammatical control. You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures correctly, such as the use of subordinate clauses in 'Since I have a good understanding of our products... I can quickly adapt'. Punctuation is accurate, and the tone is consistently professional. There are no noticeable grammatical errors, and the sentences are clear and easy to read. The variety of structures used is sufficient to meet the requirements for a high band, as the majority of your sentences are error-free and demonstrate good syntactic control.

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

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