Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-04

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 9.0)

Dear Mr. Thompson,

I am writing to request permission to attend a professional training course that I believe would greatly benefit both my career development and our company.

Recently, I came across an advertisement for a Digital Project Management Certification Course offered by a reputable training institute. The course is a six-week program that covers key areas such as project planning, risk assessment, team coordination, and the use of modern project management software. Since much of our work involves managing international projects, I feel that this course is highly relevant to my current role.

I would be grateful if the company could assist me by covering either the full course fee or part of the cost. In addition, I may need a small amount of flexibility in my schedule to attend a few online sessions during working hours. I will ensure that my responsibilities are not affected and that all deadlines continue to be met.

I am confident that the knowledge and skills gained from this training will enable me to manage projects more efficiently, improve communication with clients and colleagues, and contribute to the successful delivery of future projects. Furthermore, I will be happy to share what I learn with other team members through a short presentation or workshop.

Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to your favorable response.

Yours sincerely,

John Smith

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly describe the Digital Project Management Certification, explain the company's potential role in funding and scheduling, and articulate the professional benefits of the course. The tone is appropriately formal and professional for a letter to a manager. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the offer to share knowledge with the team, which adds a persuasive element to your request. The response is well-structured and covers all requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the request, moving smoothly from the introduction to the course description, the support needed, and the expected benefits. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Furthermore', and 'Since' are used naturally to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is coherent, making the letter easy to follow and professional in its presentation.

Lexical Resource — Band 9.0

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for a professional context. Phrases such as 'professional training course', 'reputable training institute', 'risk assessment', and 'favorable response' show a high level of lexical control. The language is natural and sophisticated, fitting the context of a formal business request perfectly. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary used is both varied and accurate, contributing to the overall clarity and professional tone of the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with full flexibility and accuracy. You use complex sentences effectively, such as 'I would be grateful if the company could assist me by covering either the full course fee or part of the cost.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical errors. The control over verb tenses and modal verbs is excellent, ensuring that the request is polite and the future benefits are clearly stated. The writing is error-free.

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