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 manager,

I am writing to express my concern about reducing my work hours in order to study in part time.

Generally, I want to pursue my studies to influence my future life for which am planning to reduce working time. This will help me to focus on my academic goals. Moreover, reduction in working hours can give me time to maintain my schedule in positive form.

Furthermore, I want to continue my work for specific hours from 2:00 pm to midnight. This will allow me to regulate my financial independence and to generate income for completing my studies without any restrictions.

In addition, part time studies will also benefits my employer as it facilitates me with various skills and job opportunities. Usually, I will be able to deal with different situations in business firms. However, it will affect my physical and mental wellbeing in positive manner.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Gagan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the prompt. You explained your motivation for studying, specified the desired working hours, and described the benefits to your employer. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the explanation of how your studies benefit the employer is quite vague, mentioning only 'various skills' without specifying how these skills apply to your current role. To reach a higher band, ensure your ideas are more fully extended with concrete examples. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, though the opening sentence 'express my concern about reducing' is slightly unnatural; 'request to reduce' would be more precise.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter follows a logical structure, with each paragraph addressing a specific part of the prompt. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'In addition', and 'However' to link your ideas. While these are used correctly, the flow between sentences is occasionally a bit mechanical. The paragraphing is clear, which helps the reader follow your argument. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the transition between your personal goals and the benefits to the company is smoother, as the current shift feels slightly abrupt.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using words like 'pursue', 'regulate', and 'facilitates'. However, there are some instances of awkward word choice and collocation. For example, 'maintain my schedule in positive form' is not standard English, and 'influence my future life' is vague. Additionally, 'study in part time' should be 'study part-time'. While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Focusing on more natural collocations will significantly enhance your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'study in part time' (should be 'study part-time') and 'benefits my employer' (should be 'benefit'). You also have some issues with articles and prepositions, such as 'in positive manner' (should be 'in a positive manner'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication, and the meaning remains clear throughout the letter. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles.

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