Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 7.5)

Dear,

Manager Sir,

​I am writing to formally express my interest in exploring opportunities to transition to a different department within the company. Having completed two years in my current role, I believe this step is crucial for my ongoing professional growth and career development.

​During my time in this position, I have gained invaluable skills and experience. I have developed a deep understanding of our core operational processes, sharpened my problem-solving abilities, and enhanced my communication and project management skills while collaborating with various team members. I am extremely grateful for the support and guidance you have provided, which have been instrumental in my professional growth so far.

​I believe moving to a new department would be highly beneficial for the company as well. Possessing a solid, hands-on foundation in our current team's workflows, I can bring a unique cross-departmental perspective to a new role. This internal knowledge will enable me to bridge gaps between teams, foster smoother cross-functional collaboration, and apply the insights I have gathered here to drive efficiencies in a new domain without requiring extensive onboarding regarding company culture or policies.

​I am particularly keen on making an internal transfer rather than looking elsewhere because I strongly align with the company's vision, culture, and values. I thoroughly enjoy working here and deeply appreciate the collaborative environment we have build. I want to continue contributing to the organization’s long-term success and build my career within the company.

​I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you at your convenience to get your advice and explore potential options. Thank you very much for your time, support, and understanding.

​

your sincerely,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The candidate has fully and effectively addressed all parts of the task prompt. The letter opens with an appropriate context, clearly stating the duration of employment and the career goal. In the second paragraph, the writer effectively describes what has been learned, mentioning operational processes, problem-solving, and communication skills. The third paragraph provides a strong, well-developed suggestion regarding how the company would benefit from an internal transfer, specifically highlighting cross-departmental perspective and reduced onboarding time. Finally, the fourth paragraph clearly explains the desire to remain with the company due to shared values and a positive working environment. The tone is consistently appropriate, professional, and polite throughout the response, successfully fulfilling all functional requirements of a General Training Task 1 letter. Therefore, a high band score of 8.0 is fully warranted for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter demonstrates a clear and logical overall structure with seamless progression from introduction to conclusion. Paragraphing is used skillfully and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct bullet point from the prompt. Cohesive devices are managed very well, using transitional phrases such as 'During my time in this position', 'I believe moving to a new department', and 'I am particularly keen on' to guide the reader effortlessly through the text. Referencing throughout the letter is exceptionally clear, and the flow of ideas remains natural and uninterrupted. There are no noticeable mechanical faults or awkward transitions. This level of organisation and precise management of textual cohesion easily satisfies the requirements for a Band 8.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The candidate displays a wide, fluent, and flexible lexical resource suitable for a professional correspondence task. Less common vocabulary items and idiomatic phrases are used naturally and with a high degree of precision, such as 'formally express my interest', 'invaluable skills', 'cross-departmental perspective', and 'bridge gaps between teams'. Word choice and collocations are generally accurate, although there is a very minor typographical error near the end ('we have build' instead of 'built'). This minor slip does not impede communication in any way and is typical of an occasional inaccuracy permitted at the higher bands. Overall, the vocabulary is sophisticated yet natural, comfortably securing a Band 8.0 score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writer showcases a wide range of grammatical structures with a high level of control and flexibility. The response features a successful mixture of complex and compound sentences, incorporating participle clauses and subordinate structures smoothly, as seen in phrases like 'Possessing a solid, hands-on foundation...'. The majority of sentences are entirely error-free. Punctuation is handled well, and grammatical control is maintained consistently throughout the text. The only minor flaw is a slight spelling/form error in the closing sign-off ('your sincerely' instead of 'Yours sincerely'), but this is far outweighed by the overall grammatical sophistication and accuracy present across the entire letter. This performance strongly reflects the Band 8 descriptor profile.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.