Letter Requesting Time Off Work

IELTS Writing Practice — AI-Powered Feedback

Writing Prompt

You need to take some time off work to deal with an important personal matter.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter:

explain why you need time off
say how much time you will need and when
suggest how your work could be covered while you are away

Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear Ms Powell,

Show Band 8–9 model answer

Dear Ms Powell,

I am writing to request some time off work to deal with an urgent personal matter concerning my father’s health. He has recently been admitted to hospital in Manchester, and as his primary carer, I need to be there to support him and coordinate his treatment and aftercare.

If possible, I would like to take seven working days’ leave from Monday 3 March to Tuesday 11 March inclusive, returning to the office on Wednesday 12 March. I have checked our team calendar, and this period does not clash with any major product launches or client presentations.

To minimise disruption, I have already updated the status of all ongoing projects in our shared tracker. I will complete the initial draft of the Wilson report before I leave, so that James can finalise the charts and submit it on schedule. I have also spoken to Priya, who is willing to handle any urgent client emails in my absence. If needed, I can be available for brief calls in the late afternoon, once I am at the hospital.

I apologise for the short notice and appreciate your understanding. Please let me know if you require any further information.

Yours sincerely,
Alex Carter

Why this response works

This letter would likely achieve a high band because it fully addresses all three bullet points with clear, relevant detail. The tone is consistently appropriate for a professional context, balancing formality and warmth, and the purpose is evident from the outset and maintained throughout. Ideas are logically sequenced, with smooth progression from reason, to timing, to coverage arrangements. Lexical resource is strong and natural, with precise collocations (e.g. “primary carer”, “minimise disruption”, “shared tracker”). Grammatical structures are varied and accurate, including complex sentences and conditionals, with no significant errors impeding clarity.