Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-10

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 Sir,

I am writing this letter to ask if I can reduce my working hours because I want to study part-time.

The reason I want to reduce my working hours is that I would like to continue my education and learn new skills. It is difficult to manage full-time work and studies at the same time. Therefore, I need some extra time for my classes and homework.

I would like to work from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. I hope these working hours will be suitable for the company.

My studies will also be helpful for the company. I will learn new things and improve my skills. I believe this knowledge will help me do my work better and support my team.

I hope you will understand my situation and accept my request. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Shoban.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address all three requested points: you explain that you want to continue your education, specify Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and describe how improved skills could help your work and team. The purpose and request are clear. However, the reason for studying and the benefit to the employer are stated quite generally; for example, “learn new skills” and “do my work better” would be more convincing if linked to a particular skill or workplace responsibility. The response is also 148 words, so it falls two words short of the required minimum. A little more specific development would both strengthen the letter and meet the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The letter is easy to follow, with a clear progression from the request and its reason to your proposed schedule, the employer’s benefit, and a polite closing. Separate paragraphs give each point appropriate space, and linking expressions such as “Therefore” and “also” help show the relationships between ideas. The sequence is logical and the reader can readily identify your request. To make the organisation feel more flexible and less formulaic, connect some ideas more closely—for instance, explain how the extra study time will lead to a specific improvement in your work. Overall, cohesion is clear, though the short, self-contained paragraphs leave some ideas only lightly connected.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is clear and appropriate for a formal workplace letter, with useful phrases such as “reduce my working hours,” “continue my education,” and “support my team.” The meaning remains easy to understand throughout. However, the range is limited and several broad words recur, including “work,” “skills,” and “helpful.” Some phrasing is also rather general, such as “learn new things,” which does not convey the specific value of your studies. More precise workplace and study-related vocabulary would add flexibility and make the employer benefit more persuasive. Aim to vary repeated terms and choose expressions that identify the skills or responsibilities involved.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of straightforward statements and more developed structures, including the reason clause in “because I want to study part-time” and the conditional construction “I hope these working hours will be suitable.” Most sentences are accurate, and punctuation and paragraphing support clear communication. There are no serious grammatical problems that obscure your meaning. However, the sentence patterns are mostly simple and repetitive, with several statements beginning “I” or “I would.” To show a wider range, combine related ideas using clauses such as “By studying part-time, I could…” or “Although balancing both is difficult, …”. This would add structural variety while maintaining the good clarity already present.

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

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