Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-05

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

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

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

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

Student answer (Band 6.0)

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am writing to request a reduction on my woking hours so I can focus part time on my studies.

I am delighted to inform you that I have enrolled in a master's program at the University of California. Therefore, I would not be able to continue my full-time work hours. I would appreciate it if you could reduce my hours while I pursue my studies.

My classes will begin next month on Tuesday, 25th November, and I can work from 8 am to 2 pm, as my classes will be held on evenings.

I am studying Master's in Operative and I believe this will equip me with the necessary knowledge required to handle patients

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You explain that you want to study for a master’s degree and give a proposed schedule of 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., so the reason and preferred hours are identifiable. However, the request is not fully developed: you do not specify which days you can work, and the benefit to your employer is only begun in “equip me with the necessary knowledge required to handle patients.” Explain how this qualification would improve your work or benefit the organisation, and complete the point. The letter also falls short of the required 150 words, leaving limited space to develop all three bullet points. Overall, the task is addressed only partially, with some key ideas under-developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall sequence: you state your request, explain your studies, and then give your proposed hours before beginning to discuss a benefit. Paragraphing helps distinguish these points, and linking words such as “Therefore” and “as” make the relationships between ideas understandable. The progression is not fully complete, however, because the final paragraph ends abruptly and does not finish the employer-benefit point. The schedule would also be clearer if you stated the days as well as the hours. To strengthen the organisation, complete each paragraph’s idea and use a closing paragraph to confirm your request and invite discussion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range for a formal workplace letter, including “request a reduction,” “enrolled,” “master’s program,” and “necessary knowledge.” These choices communicate the main points, and the tone is generally appropriate. Some word choices and collocations are less natural: “reduction on my working hours” would be more idiomatically expressed as “reduction in my working hours,” while “I am studying Master’s in Operative” is unclear and appears to contain an inaccurate course title or phrasing. There is also a spelling error in “woking.” Use precise terminology for your programme and describe the practical skills it will develop to make the vocabulary more accurate and specific.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You show a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, and several sentences are controlled, such as “I would appreciate it if you could reduce my hours while I pursue my studies.” The use of “would” for a polite request and the clause beginning “as my classes will be held…” are effective. Some grammatical and punctuation issues remain. In “I am studying Master’s in Operative,” the article and sentence construction need attention; the final sentence also lacks a full stop. The opening sentence is understandable but would be more natural as “I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours.” Continue using varied structures, while checking articles, sentence completion, and punctuation before submitting.

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