IELTS General Training Writing Task 1: Letter to Reduce Working Hours

The Letter:

You would like to reduce your working hours in order to study part time.

Write a letter to your boss. In your letter:

• explain why you want to reduce your working hours
• say which hours you would like to work
• describe how your part-time studies would benefit your employer

Write at least 150 words.

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Band 9 Model Answer

Dear Mr. Harrison,

I am writing to formally request a reduction in my current working hours so that I may undertake a part-time study program.

As you may know, I have been continually looking for ways to further my professional development within the company. I have recently been accepted into a part-time Master’s program in Data Analytics at the local university. Pursuing this degree will allow me to significantly enhance my technical skills, but it requires a dedicated time commitment.

To accommodate my upcoming class schedule, I would like to propose reducing my hours from a full-time, five-day week to three days a week. Ideally, I would work from Monday to Wednesday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This arrangement would leave my Thursdays and Fridays entirely free to attend seminars and complete coursework.

I firmly believe that undertaking this qualification will directly benefit our department. The advanced analytical techniques I will acquire will enable me to streamline our monthly reporting processes and extract more actionable insights from our market research. Ultimately, this will increase our overall efficiency and help us make more informed strategic decisions.

Thank you for considering my request. I would be happy to schedule a meeting to discuss how we can manage this transition smoothly without disrupting the team’s workflow.

Yours sincerely,

Alex Mercer

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💡 Why this is a Band 9 Answer:

• Task Achievement: All three bullet points are covered clearly and logically. The tone is perfectly suited for a formal workplace request.
• Coherence & Cohesion: Paragraphs are well-structured, each dealing with a specific part of the prompt. Smooth transitions are used (e.g., “To accommodate my upcoming class schedule”, “I firmly believe that”).
• Lexical Resource: Uses precise and professional vocabulary (professional development, time commitment, streamline, actionable insights, strategic decisions).
• Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Employs a mix of complex sentence structures flawlessly (“The advanced analytical techniques I will acquire will enable me to…”).

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IELTS General Training Writing Task 2: Selfies at Tourist Landmarks

The Essay:

More and more people nowadays visit well-known places to take photographs of themselves, without looking at the place.

Why do you think this is happening?

Is it a positive or a negative trend?

Write at least 250 words.

Band 9 Model Essay

In recent years, a growing number of tourists travel to famous landmarks primarily to capture self-portraits, often ignoring the historical, cultural, or natural significance of the site itself. This superficial approach to tourism is largely driven by the pervasive influence of social media, and I consider it to be a distinctly negative trend that detracts from the true value of travel.

The primary catalyst for this behavior is the meteoric rise of visual social media platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok. Modern society places a heavy emphasis on personal branding and digital validation. Consequently, many individuals feel a compelling need to curate an idealized online persona to project a successful and exciting lifestyle. Visiting a renowned destination, therefore, becomes less about personal enrichment and more about acquiring digital proof of travel to garner “likes” and online approval. Furthermore, the ‘fear of missing out’ (FOMO) propels tourists to replicate viral photos they have seen online, effectively reducing majestic landscapes or profound monuments to mere backdrops for their selfies.

This selfie-centric culture is undeniably detrimental for several reasons. Firstly, it deprives the traveler of a genuine, immersive educational experience. By viewing a landmark exclusively through the narrow lens of a smartphone screen, visitors fail to appreciate the atmosphere, architectural nuances, or the profound history of the location. Secondly, this fixation often leads to disrespectful and disruptive behavior. Tourists frequently trespass on restricted areas, damage fragile environments, or ruin the experience of others in their quest for the perfect angle. For instance, the solemnity of important memorials or religious sites is routinely undermined by visitors prioritizing impromptu photoshoots over quiet reflection and respect.

In conclusion, the tendency for tourists to focus solely on photographing themselves at famous sites is a direct byproduct of modern social media culture and an insatiable desire for online validation. This is a highly negative trend that fosters a shallow travel experience and frequently results in a lack of respect for culturally significant destinations. True travel should be about broadening one’s horizons, not merely updating a digital portfolio.

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💡 Why this is a Band 9 Answer:

• Task Response: Fully addresses both questions in the prompt. It clearly explains the causes (social media, FOMO, digital validation) and takes a strong, well-supported stance that it is a negative trend.
• Coherence & Cohesion: The essay flows logically with clear topic sentences. Linking devices are used masterfully (Consequently, Furthermore, Firstly, Secondly, For instance, In conclusion).
• Lexical Resource: Showcases an exceptional vocabulary (pervasive influence, primary catalyst, meteoric rise, curate an idealized online persona, architectural nuances, profound monuments, insatiable desire).
• Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Uses a wide variety of complex grammatical structures perfectly, creating a sophisticated and academic tone without feeling forced.

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