Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-17

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 8.0)

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am writing to request an opportunity to work at our company’s head office in London for a period of six months.

I believe working at the head office would be extremely beneficial for my professional development. It would give me an opportunity to understand the company’s international operations and learn directly from experienced colleagues. In addition, I could develop new skills and bring this knowledge back to our local office, which could benefit our team in the future.

During my absence, my regular responsibilities could be shared between my colleagues. I would be happy to train them before leaving and prepare detailed instructions for my ongoing projects. I could also remain available by email or video call if any urgent assistance is required.

I would greatly appreciate your help in arranging this opportunity. Could you please advise me about the application process and whether I need approval from the head office? I am also happy to meet with you to discuss the arrangement in more detail.

Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Vishwa Gosai

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully and effectively covers all three bullet points required by the task prompt. The writer successfully explains the motivation behind wanting to work in the London head office, highlighting professional development and international operations. Furthermore, the letter clearly outlines how regular responsibilities will be managed during the absence through delegation, training, and remote availability. Finally, the student appropriately asks for the manager's help and advice regarding the application process. The tone is polite, professional, and entirely suitable for a workplace communication. The ideas are well-developed and all parts of the prompt are given adequate and balanced attention without straying off-topic. This aligns comfortably with the requirements for a high band score under Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter exhibits a clear, logical overall progression. Each paragraph has a distinct and unified focus: introduction of purpose, reasons for the request, handling of work responsibilities during absence, and next steps/closing. Cohesive devices are used naturally and appropriately without being overused or mechanical. For instance, transitional phrases such as 'In addition' and 'During my absence' guide the reader smoothly through the writer's arguments. Paragraphing is handled very well, separating distinct ideas into clear, readable sections. Referencing is consistently clear throughout the text, contributing to an effortless reading experience.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary used is natural, appropriate, and accurate for a professional context. The writer demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary, incorporating strong collocations and business-appropriate terminology such as 'professional development', 'international operations', 'ongoing projects', and 'urgent assistance'. While the lexis does not heavily feature extreme idiom or rare academic terms, it is entirely precise and fulfills the communicative purpose with complete ease. Word choice and spelling are accurate throughout, demonstrating a strong control of lexical resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response features a very good mix of complex and simple sentence structures used accurately. The writer demonstrates strong control over modal verbs and conditional forms, as seen in sentences like 'It would give me an opportunity...' and 'I would be happy to train them...'. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout. There are no noticeable grammatical slips or awkward phrasings that impede communication. This level of grammatical control and variety reflects solid competency and accuracy across a range of structures.

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

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