Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-12

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 Sir or Madam,

I am writing to express my interest in transferring to another department within the company. I started working here two years ago, and I recently noticed on the company website that there is a vacancy in another department. I believe that moving to this department would be beneficial for my professional development and future career.

During my time with the company, I have developed many skills and gained valuable experience that can be applied to different types of work. For example, I have learned how to manage staff effectively, organize responsibilities, and maintain workplace discipline and professionalism.

The company could also benefit from transferring me because I am already familiar with the staff, workplace procedures, and various duties. As a result, I would require less training than a new employee and could adapt to the new department quickly. This could save the company both time and resources.

Finally, I would prefer to continue working for this company because I have built strong relationships with my colleagues and developed mutual trust and understanding. I feel comfortable working here and consider the company to be like a second family.

Therefore, I kindly request that you consider my profile, experience, relationships with employees, and previous responsibilities when selecting a candidate for this position. I believe that this opportunity would help me develop professionally while also allowing me to continue contributing to the company.

Yours faithfully,

Honey

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain the skills learned in your current role, such as staff management and organization. You provide a logical argument for how the company benefits from your transfer, specifically citing your existing knowledge of procedures and the reduction in training time. Finally, you articulate your desire to stay within the company due to established professional relationships. The tone is consistently formal and appropriate for a letter to a manager. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset, meeting all requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'For example,' 'As a result,' and 'Finally,' to link your sentences and paragraphs. The transition between your current experience and the benefits to the company is smooth. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body points, and conclusion. The overall structure is coherent and professional, making the letter easy to read and understand.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for a professional context. Phrases such as 'professional development,' 'workplace procedures,' and 'contributing to the company' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it is mostly standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to express your ideas with more precision. However, there are no significant errors in word choice, and the language used is natural and fits the context of a formal business letter perfectly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The grammar is highly accurate throughout the letter. You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively, such as 'I believe that moving to this department would be beneficial...' and 'As a result, I would require less training than a new employee...'. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no noticeable errors that impede communication. The control over verb tenses and sentence construction is strong. While the sentence structures are generally straightforward, they are error-free and demonstrate a solid command of English grammar suitable for this task.

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

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