Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-08

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 am writing to request you to please reduce my working hours because I want to study in part time. I would like be grateful if you would help me in this matter because I want to complete my studies.

Firstly I would like to request you to please reduce my ten working hours to seven hours. The reason for this request is that because I want to complete my graduation and study in remaninig three free hours I will utilize them to cover my reamining course.

In addition, I would appreciate it if you could accept my request. This would allow me to compete my studies and gain more knowledge. By increasing the knowlegde I would like to put more effort in the success of company so it is beneficial for both.

I would be grateful if you could consider my requests. Please let me know if you need any other infomation. I am happy to provide any necessary documents or details

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Hamza Fayyaz

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the main purpose by requesting shorter hours, explaining that you want to complete your studies, and stating that the additional knowledge could help the company. However, the request is only partly specific: “reduce my ten working hours to seven hours” does not clarify which hours or days you would work, so one task point is not fully answered. The benefit to your employer is also asserted rather than explained; for example, describe how your studies would build skills relevant to your role. The reason for studying is understandable, but “complete my graduation” gives little context. To strengthen the letter, state a clear proposed schedule and develop the employer benefit with a concrete example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter has a recognisable structure, with an opening request, supporting paragraphs, and a polite closing. Paragraphs broadly group related information, and connectors such as “Firstly” and “In addition” help signal progression. However, the progression is somewhat repetitive: the wish to complete your studies and the request for approval are restated several times without adding much detail. The sentence beginning “The reason for this request is that because” also makes the connection between ideas awkward, while “This would allow me” has a reference that could be more precise. Organise the body around the three requested points—reason, proposed schedule, and employer benefit—and use clear links between them.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the basic request, and phrases such as “reduce my working hours,” “gain more knowledge,” and “beneficial for both” relate to the topic. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, collocation, and spelling problems make the letter less natural. “Study in part time” is not idiomatic, while “cover my remaining course” is unclear in this context. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “remaninig,” “reamining,” “knowlegde,” and “infomation.” Aim for precise workplace and study-related expressions, and proofread carefully. More specific vocabulary would also help explain how your studies could contribute to the company.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mixture of simple statements and longer sentences, and the reader can generally understand your request. However, control is uneven, particularly in longer constructions. For example, “I would like be grateful” is missing “to,” and “The reason for this request is that because” combines two structures incorrectly. In “I want to complete my graduation and study in remaining three free hours,” the phrasing and sentence construction make the relationship between the ideas difficult to follow. The letter also relies heavily on repeated “I would like” and “I would be grateful” patterns. Practise accurate infinitive forms and build longer sentences around one clear main clause, then check punctuation and sentence boundaries.

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

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