Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-01

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)

I am writing this letter because I want reduce my working hours. I want study part time because I want improve my education and learn more things. My family also tell me to continue my study. If I study now, it is good for my future.

I want work only from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm from Monday to Friday. In afternoon I will go to my classes. I will come office on time and do my work before leave. I try my best.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is only 84 words long. While you have addressed the three bullet points—explaining the reason for reducing hours, specifying the desired schedule, and mentioning the benefits to the employer—the ideas are severely underdeveloped. For example, the benefit to the employer is mentioned only as 'I will come office on time and do my work before leave,' which lacks the professional depth required for a formal letter. To improve, you must expand on your points with more detail and ensure you meet the length requirement to fully develop your ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into two short paragraphs, which is a basic structure. However, the progression of ideas is limited due to the brevity of the text. There is a lack of cohesive devices; you rely on simple sentence structures and repetitive 'I want' phrasing, which makes the flow feel mechanical. To achieve a higher band, you should use a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' 'in addition to this') to connect your ideas more fluidly and create a more professional tone appropriate for a letter to a boss.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive, relying heavily on simple verbs like 'want' and 'study.' There is little evidence of the range required for higher bands. For instance, 'learn more things' is very informal and vague. To improve, you should incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to professional settings and academic pursuits. Using more sophisticated synonyms and collocations will help demonstrate a better command of the language and improve the overall quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response consists almost entirely of simple sentences. There are several grammatical errors, such as missing infinitives ('want reduce' instead of 'want to reduce'), missing articles ('come office' instead of 'come to the office'), and incorrect preposition usage ('before leave' instead of 'before leaving'). The lack of complex sentence structures limits your ability to demonstrate grammatical range. To improve, focus on using a mix of complex and compound sentences and pay closer attention to basic verb patterns and prepositions.

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