Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-10

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You work for an international company. You have seen an advertisement for a training course which will be useful for your job.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter

• describe the training course you want to do
• explain what the company could do to help you
• say how the course will be useful for your job

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 7.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to seek help in enrolling in a French learning course that will be held next month in our town as advertised in the local newspaper.

The course is basically focussing on communication skills in French. It is a 3-month course which will help beginners to understand and speak French confidently in 3 months. The instructors are expert in breaking down grammar rules in simpler form which will help to learn the basics quicker, as I read the feedback on their website.

I was wondering if the company can pay the fees for the course, that would be so helpful. I would also appreciate it if you could excuse me on every Fridays for this period, since the classes will be on held on the Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

As our company has a few important French speaking clients, this skill will be useful to convey our messages to the customers. Furthermore, I can also help our French clients as a translator during meetings, which can make them feel comfortable.

I hope you will consider my request favourably, and allow me to prepare for this opportunity.

I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours faithfully,

PJ

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly describe the French course, explain the support needed from the company (financial and time-off), and justify the course's relevance to your job. The tone is appropriate for a formal business letter. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the explanation of how the training will benefit the company by assisting French-speaking clients. The purpose of the letter is clear from the outset, and the response maintains a consistent focus on the task requirements throughout.

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 range of cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'since', and 'as' to link your sentences and ideas effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the opening and closing salutations are correct. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between the request for time off and the justification for the course is well-connected.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal request. Phrases like 'seek help in enrolling', 'convey our messages', and 'consider my request favourably' are well-chosen and fit the context. There is a minor collocation issue with 'on held on the Fridays', where 'held on' is redundant. However, your vocabulary is generally precise and allows for clear communication. You avoid repetition and use a variety of terms related to professional development and business communication, which shows a solid command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is generally good. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'The instructors are expert in breaking down' (should be 'experts') and 'on every Fridays' (should be 'on every Friday' or 'on Fridays'). These errors are non-systematic and do not impede the reader's understanding of your request. The use of modal verbs like 'can' and 'would' is appropriate for making polite requests in a professional setting.

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

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