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 John,

I am writing this letter to request you to reduce my working hours from 10 hours per day to 8 hours. The reason behind this change is my interest to learn French language part-time for next 6 months.

Currently, I am responsible for communicating with our company's Elite clients and their queries. During my workflow I came across a repitiive issue of communication with our French clients. As, I am an English-speaking person, it becomes difficult to maintain a strong conversation in stating my side of point. This not only questions my credibility but also doubts our company's reputition.

However, to channel my weakness into strength I decided to pick a part-time course of French learning course at the local university. My classes will be held everyday in the evening around 6 PM. To maintain a balance of my work and study I wish to take early morning shifts from 9 AM till 5 PM in the evening. Post-work I will be able to continue my learning.

Upon completion of my course I will be certified as a Competent Speaker. This will make me a French Speaker and will also allow me to develop strong relationship with our Clients.

Looking forward for your approval.

Your faithfully,

Aakansha

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter clearly addresses all three requested points. You explain that you want to study French because communication with French clients is difficult, specify a proposed schedule of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and show how the qualification could strengthen client relationships and benefit the company. These ideas are relevant and the purpose of the request is clear throughout. The explanation of the employer benefit is persuasive, although it could be developed further by stating more directly how improved communication might support client service or business outcomes. The request would also be more complete if you clarified how the reduction from ten to eight hours fits the proposed shift, since 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. is an eight-hour span before any break. Overall, the main ideas are extended and supported, with some room for greater precision.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter follows a clear progression: you make the request, explain the communication problem, describe your study plan and preferred hours, and conclude with the expected benefit. Paragraphing helps distinguish these stages, and linking phrases such as “However” and “Upon completion” guide the reader through the argument. The connection between the opening request and the later schedule could be made more explicit, and “During my workflow” is an awkward transition into the example. Some links are also slightly mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “This” to introduce consequences. To strengthen the organisation further, use more precise references and make the relationship between each paragraph’s point and your request unmistakable. The overall progression remains easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a formal workplace request, including “responsible for communicating,” “maintain a strong conversation,” and “develop strong relationship.” The topic-specific language makes your reason for studying French clear. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “repetiitive issue,” “stating my side of point,” “pick a part-time course of French learning course,” and “questions my credibility.” There are also spelling errors in “reputation” and “repetitive,” and “Elite clients” is unnecessarily capitalised unless it is an official title. These choices do not prevent understanding, but they reduce precision and naturalness. Aim for concise, conventional expressions such as “recurring communication difficulties” and “enrol in a part-time French course.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including the explanation beginning “As I am an English-speaking person” and the purpose clause “To maintain a balance of my work and study.” Most of the message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors affect accuracy. For example, “request you to reduce” needs a different construction, such as “request that my hours be reduced”; “my interest to learn” would be “my interest in learning”; and “strong relationship” needs an article or plural form. The sentence beginning “As” is also punctuated incorrectly when followed by a comma after “As,” and “Looking forward for your approval” uses an incorrect preposition. Review article use, verb patterns, and sentence punctuation, while retaining your attempts at longer structures.

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

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