Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-29

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 request you to reduce my working hours, as i would like to switch from full time to part time employee.

I am currently pursuing Master of arts in Sociology to upgrade my CV and gather more knowledge around my subject.However, Working and studying at the same time is very stressful for me because i am not able to focus on or give my full potential to both the areas.

I am more comfortable working 3 days a week and remaining days i can attend classes and prepare for my test. Moreover , my masters degree will teach me communication and social skills which will enhance my work ability. Thus, it will definitely be an advantage for my future that my new knowledge will be applied in my work

I would appreciate you help,

Your Sincerely

Harshneet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the proposed schedule, and the benefits to the employer. However, the response is slightly under the 150-word minimum, which limits the depth of development. The explanation of benefits is somewhat generic, and the letter could have been more persuasive by elaborating on how the specific skills from the sociology degree would translate into workplace efficiency. Because the length requirement was not met, the development of ideas is restricted, preventing a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body, and closing. Paragraphing is used, though the structure is quite brief. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Moreover', and 'Thus' are used to connect ideas, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The flow is generally easy to follow, but the lack of length makes the overall progression feel somewhat abrupt. The letter follows the standard conventions of a formal request letter, which helps maintain coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to communicate their request clearly. There are some attempts at more academic language, such as 'pursuing' and 'enhance my work ability'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are minor errors in word choice and capitalization, such as 'Master of arts' (should be capitalized) and 'you help' (should be 'your help'). The vocabulary is functional but lacks the sophistication or precision required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including the failure to capitalize the pronoun 'I' in several instances, missing articles, and punctuation errors (e.g., 'Moreover ,'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable. The sentence structure is generally clear, but the control over basic grammar and punctuation needs improvement to reach a higher band.

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