Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-06

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You work for an international company, and would like to spend six months working in its head office in another country. Write a letter to your manager. In your letter

• explain why you want to work in the company's head office for six months
• say how your work could be done while you are away
• ask for his/her help in arranging it

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. ,

Student answer (Band 9.0)

Dear Manager,

I am writing to request your approval to spend six months working at our company's head office in Germany.

I have been with the company for the past three years, and I believe that working at the head office would be an excellent opportunity to develop my professional skills. It would allow me to learn more about the company's global operations, gain experience from senior colleagues, and improve my knowledge of international business practices. I am confident that this experience would help me contribute more effectively to our local office when I return.

While I am away, I believe my current responsibilities can still be managed efficiently. Most of my work is carried out online, so I would be able to continue handling my projects remotely. For tasks that require someone to be physically present, I am willing to train a colleague before my departure and remain available to provide support whenever needed.

I would be grateful if you could help arrange this opportunity by discussing my request with the human resources department and the management team at the head office. I would also appreciate any advice you could offer regarding the application process and any necessary formalities.

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

Yours sincerely,

kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly explain the motivation for the six-month transfer, provide a logical plan for managing your current workload through remote work and delegation, and make a polite, specific request for assistance. The tone is consistently professional and appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the opening paragraph to the conclusion. All requirements of the task have been met 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 from the purpose of the visit to the practicalities of the work arrangement, and finally to the call to action. Cohesive devices such as 'While I am away', 'For tasks that require', and 'I would also appreciate' are used naturally to link sentences and paragraphs. The structure is coherent, and the paragraphing is used effectively to guide the reader through the request.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for a professional context. Phrases such as 'global operations', 'professional skills', 'physically present', and 'necessary formalities' are used accurately. The language is natural and precise, fitting the formal tone required for this task. While the vocabulary is not overly complex, it is highly effective and demonstrates a strong command of business-related terminology, which is appropriate for the task requirements.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The writing is highly accurate with a variety of sentence structures. You successfully use complex sentences, such as 'I would be grateful if you could help arrange this opportunity by discussing my request with the human resources department', without errors. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no significant grammatical slips. The control over tense and modal verbs is consistent, contributing to the professional and persuasive tone of the letter.

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

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