Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-12

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 Cheif Executive Officer,

I am writing this letter to officially request for the reduction of my working hours. The main reason for this request is that i got an admission in International Masters in Business Administration. So, working early in the working at 9:00am will not be possible for me. The best suitable hours for me to work are from 12:00pm till 4:00pm, however these can be adjusted to one hour earlier. I took applied for this Masters program due to my interest in it and it will help me enhance my administrative skills as well. These skills will help you also as you will be having an employee with an International MB. I aim to contribute myself and those skills (which I will learn from that program) in this organization. I am sure that it will help our organization as well. Kindly, have a look at my issue and allow me to work part-time.

Regards,

Muhammad Hassan Khan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address all three requested points: you explain that you have been admitted to a business programme, propose working from 12:00 to 4:00, and say the studies could improve your administrative skills. The purpose of the letter is clear, and the benefit to the employer is relevant. However, the explanation of why the proposed hours are needed is unclear: “working early in the working at 9:00am will not be possible” does not explain the study timetable or other practical reason. The employer benefit is also repeated rather than developed, and “an employee with an International MB” is vague. Give a specific example of how the new skills could help your work, and state the requested arrangement more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The ideas follow a generally sensible order: you make the request, give a reason, propose hours, and describe a possible benefit. Linking expressions such as “So,” “however,” and “as well” help show relationships between points. However, the letter is presented as one continuous paragraph, so the request and its supporting details are not clearly separated. Some links are also awkward or repetitive, particularly the repeated claim that the programme will help the organisation. The sentence beginning “I took applied for this Masters program” interrupts the progression and makes the explanation harder to follow. Use two or three short paragraphs and connect each point directly to the next, avoiding repeated conclusions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for a workplace request, including “reduction of my working hours,” “administrative skills,” and “contribute.” This gives the reader a clear sense of the topic. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “best suitable hours,” “I took applied,” and “contribute myself and those skills.” “International MB” is also unclear, while “Masters program” could be expressed more precisely as a master’s programme. These choices sometimes make the message less clear, even though its general meaning can be understood. Aim for natural formal phrases and check spelling and word forms, especially in the programme title and the description of your contribution.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, for example the sentence explaining how the studies may benefit the employer. The main request and proposed hours are still understandable. However, errors occur in several structures and sometimes make the reader pause. Examples include “request for the reduction” (the verb pattern should be “request a reduction”), “I got an admission” (the article and phrasing need correction), and “working early in the working at 9:00am.” The sentence “I took applied for this Masters program” also contains an incorrect verb form. Capitalisation of “i,” punctuation around “however,” and the final request need attention. Practise accurate verb patterns and build longer sentences from a clear subject and verb.

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