Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-20

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 Manager,

I am writing to express my interest in moving to a different department within the company. I have been working in my current position for the past two years, and during this time I have gained valuable experience and developed a range of skills.

In my present role, I have learned how to work effectively as part of a team, communicate with colleagues and customers, manage my time efficiently, and deal with problems under pressure. I have also gained a good understanding of the company's policies, procedures and overall operations.

I believe that transferring to another department would benefit both the company and my career development. I could use the skills and knowledge I have gained over the past two years in a new role while also bringing a fresh perspective to the department. In addition, my knowledge of the company's systems and working practices would allow me to adapt quickly and contribute effectively.

However, I do not wish to leave the company because I am very satisfied with the working environment and have enjoyed being part of the team. I value the opportunities I have been given here and would like to continue developing my career within the company.

I would be grateful if you could consider my request and discuss possible opportunities for an internal transfer with me.

Yours sincerely,

Keith

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly outline the skills learned in your current role, such as time management and problem-solving. You also provide a logical argument for how the company would benefit from your transfer, specifically mentioning your existing knowledge of internal systems. Finally, you express your loyalty to the company by highlighting your satisfaction with the current work environment. The tone is professional and appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. All parts of the task are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset.

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, which makes the information easy to follow. You use appropriate cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'However', and 'during this time' to link your ideas smoothly. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the message. The transition between your current achievements and your desire for a new role is handled effectively, ensuring the reader understands your motivation for the request.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a professional context. Phrases like 'valuable experience', 'fresh perspective', and 'internal transfer' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and precise, it is mostly standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or nuanced professional terminology. However, the current range is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly and effectively without any errors in word choice or collocation that would impede the reader's understanding.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your writing displays a high level of grammatical accuracy. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences such as 'I would be grateful if you could consider my request and discuss possible opportunities for an internal transfer with me.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable errors in tense or subject-verb agreement. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which indicates a strong command of English grammar. The tone is consistently formal and polite, which is essential for this type of correspondence.

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

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