Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-14

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 4.5)

Dear Manager,

Congratulations on your recent promotion to senior manager. I am planning for a six months trip to Canada in April 2027. I heard a new project is going to start from May and many employees from Hyderabad office is moving to canada office for Six months. It will be really helpful if you recommend me to the project.

I am getting married in the next month and my husband pursuing his master's in Canada. He is having graduation ceremony in May so I want to be apart of his celebration. At present he is working i

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The letter begins to explain your reasons for wanting a six-month placement: your husband is studying in Canada and has a graduation ceremony in May, and you also mention a new project there. However, the response is incomplete and addresses the task only partially. It does not explain how your current work could be handled while you are away, and it does not clearly ask your manager for help arranging the placement; “recommend me to the project” is not a clear request for that assistance. The personal reason is relevant, but the work-related benefit and practical arrangements need development. The response is also 52 words below the required minimum, leaving too little space to cover all three points. Complete the letter and make each request explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The ideas have a basic sequence: you introduce the proposed trip and project, then give a personal reason for wanting to go. This provides some organisation, but the letter stops before the explanation is complete, so there is no clear progression through all the required points or a closing request. The connection between the project and your husband’s graduation could also be made clearer. Use separate paragraphs for your reasons, how your duties would be covered, and the help you need from your manager. Linking phrases such as “In addition” and “To ensure continuity” would help guide the reader, while a brief closing would make the letter feel complete.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough relevant vocabulary to communicate the main situation, including “promotion,” “project,” “graduation ceremony,” and “master’s.” These choices show some range beyond very basic wording. However, several phrases are imprecise or unnatural for a formal workplace letter, such as “planning for a six months trip” and “recommend me to the project.” The country name is also inconsistently capitalised (“canada” and “Canada”). Aim for more precise collocations, for example, “request a six-month placement” and “consider me for the project.” You could also use workplace terms such as “cover my responsibilities” or “coordinate with my team” to explain the practical arrangements more clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes both simple sentences and attempts at more complex structures, such as “I am getting married in the next month and my husband pursuing his master's in Canada.” Meaning is generally recoverable, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “my husband pursuing” needs a finite verb (“my husband is pursuing”), and “many employees … is moving” has a subject–verb agreement error (“employees … are moving”). The phrase “a six months trip” also needs a singular compound modifier (“a six-month trip”). The final sentence is cut off, which leaves its structure incomplete. Check verb forms, agreement, and sentence completion, and proofread before sending.

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

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