Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Dear sir,

I hope this letter finds you well, as i am currently working full time as a customer service associate with you company from last 2 years i would like to get switched to part-time for 1 year as i am enrlling in a course of 1 year.

I am getting enrolled in a data analytics crash course in seneca college for 1 year so i would be able to work 20 hrs per week rather than 40 hrs as i have to go university as well 5 days a week. Monday,Tuesday and Wednesday i would be working 10Am-3 pm thursday and friday 4pm-9pm as i have morning classes these 2 days.

I am looking for a growth in my carrer and after doing this course we have an open opprtunity in our company for the same position from last 6 months and we are unable to find a suitable candidate i will give my best to fill this job role.

Thanking you

Rahul

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three requested points: you explain that you want to study a one-year data analytics course, propose a 20-hour working week with specific days and times, and describe how the qualification could help fill a vacancy in the company. The request is clear, and the employer benefit is relevant. However, the benefit is less fully explained than your study plans: you mention an open position but do not show specifically how the course’s skills would help you perform it or benefit the business. The reason for reducing your hours could also be stated more directly and professionally. Develop that connection and make the request explicit—for example, ask your boss to approve the proposed schedule for the year of study.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a generally understandable sequence: it introduces your request, gives your proposed schedule, and then explains a possible benefit to the company. The schedule is presented with concrete details, which helps the reader follow your proposal. However, the first paragraph combines the greeting, employment background, request, and study reason in one long sentence, making the relationships between ideas less clear. The final paragraph also moves quickly from career growth to the company vacancy. Use separate paragraphs for the request and reason, the schedule, and the employer benefit, and connect them with clear transitions such as “In addition” or “As a result.” A conventional closing would also make the letter feel more complete.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the situation, including “customer service associate,” “data analytics,” “part-time,” and “suitable candidate.” These choices communicate the main subject and show some range beyond basic everyday language. However, several spelling and word-choice errors reduce accuracy and polish, such as “enrlling,” “carrer,” and “opprtunity.” Some expressions are also imprecise or unnatural, including “get switched to part-time” and “open opportunity in our company for the same position.” Choose more formal, precise phrases for a workplace request, and proofread spelling carefully. For example, you could refer to “a vacancy in the data analytics team” if that accurately describes the role, rather than using the unclear phrase “same position.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, and the reader can generally understand your request and schedule. However, some sentence structures are difficult to control. The opening runs several clauses together without appropriate sentence boundaries, while “as i am currently working … with you company from last 2 years” contains problems with capitalization, possessive form, and the time expression. The schedule also needs consistent punctuation and formatting, and “we have an open opportunity … and we are unable” joins ideas without clearly showing their relationship. Use shorter, complete sentences, check articles and prepositions, and capitalize “I” and the days of the week. These changes would make your meaning easier to follow.

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

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