Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am writing to request a reduction on my working hours so I can focus on my part-time 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 in the evenings. If you do not agree with this schedule , you can suggest an alternative timings that will suit both of us.

I am studying Master's in Operative. I believe this will equip me with the additional skills required to handle patients, root canal procedures, pulpectomy procedures and composite fillings. Moreover, I could work as a specialist at your clinic.

Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to hearing a prompt response.

Yours sincerely,

Sara Hassan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter clearly addresses all three requested points and maintains a polite, consistent request. You explain that you have enrolled in a master’s programme and give a specific proposed schedule of 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; you also connect your studies to patient care and the possibility of working as a specialist at the clinic. These details make the purpose clear and the ideas are relevant and supported. The benefit to the employer is somewhat narrowly presented, however: the list of procedures shows what you will learn, but you could explain more directly how this expertise would improve the clinic’s services or help its patients. Overall, the task is fully addressed, with room to develop that benefit more explicitly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter is organised in a clear sequence: request and reason, proposed hours, then benefits to the clinic. Paragraphing supports this progression, and linking expressions such as “Therefore” and “Moreover” help connect related points. The reader can follow the request without difficulty. Some connections are a little mechanical or could be made more precise. For example, “Therefore” introduces the consequence of enrolling, but the relationship between study commitments and the proposed reduction could be explained more smoothly. The sentence offering an alternative schedule also shifts quickly from your preferred hours to negotiation. A more explicit transition and clearer reference to the employer’s needs would make cohesion more flexible and natural.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a formal workplace request, including “reduction,” “enrolled,” “additional skills,” and “specialist.” The clinical terms add relevant specificity and show an attempt to use less common vocabulary. Some choices and collocations are not fully natural, though: “a reduction on my working hours” is less idiomatic than “a reduction in my working hours,” and “an alternative timings” is inaccurate. “I am studying Master’s in Operative” is also unclear as a programme description. These issues do not prevent the reader from understanding your main message, but more precise phrasing would improve fluency and professional tone. Check that specialist terminology is expressed in a form your manager will readily understand.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The letter includes a useful mix of simple and complex structures, such as “I would appreciate it if you could reduce my hours while I pursue my studies” and the conditional offer to consider another schedule. Most sentences communicate the intended meaning clearly. Some grammatical and punctuation errors remain: “I would not be able to continue my full-time work hours” uses an awkward construction, while “you can suggest an alternative timings” has an article-and-number mismatch. There is also an unnecessary space before the comma in “schedule ,” and the capitalisation in “Master’s” is inconsistent with its use as a general course description. Review noun agreement, articles and punctuation, while retaining the complex sentence forms you already attempt.

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