Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-03

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 Austin,

I am writing this letter with regards to request reduced number of working hours, so i can do some part time study.

I want to reduce my working hours because i want to follow my passion and learn the Graphic Designing course. I always wanted to learn more about it, but I could not make time for it because of work priorities. Moreover, due to Monsoon season our company projects demand have gone down, so I would like to work reduced number of hours.

I would like to work 5 hours morning shift from Monday to Friday, I feel this is the ideal time for me because I can complete all my major company tasks and duties assigned to me in the given time. Furthermore, I can spend the evenings attending my online Graphic Designing Course.

In addition to this, the skill I will learn from the course can be a great asset for me and the Company in this current Software Developer role. I could use this skill to eleviate the functionality of coding as well as, the graphics work on my assigned tasks.

I would greatly appreciate the permission to allow me persue this course, which I will be completing in 2 months. Thank you for your consideration.

Yours Faithfully,

Efrain Alejandro.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request (pursuing a Graphic Design course), specify the desired working hours (5 hours, morning shift), and articulate the benefits to your employer (enhancing coding functionality and graphics). The tone is appropriate for a formal business letter, and the purpose is clear from the outset. To reach a higher band, ensure that your explanation of how the study benefits the employer is slightly more detailed, perhaps by linking it to specific upcoming projects or company goals, which would further demonstrate the relevance of your request.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a formal closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'In addition to this' to link your ideas. However, the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking phrases and ensuring that the transition between the reason for the request and the proposed schedule is smoother. Overall, the structure is clear and effective for a formal letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'priorities', 'functionality', and 'consideration'. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'eleviate' (likely meant 'alleviate' or 'elevate') and 'persue' (spelled 'pursue'). Additionally, 'request reduced number' is missing an article ('a request for a reduced number'). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more precision. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and ensuring correct spelling of professional terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical slips, such as the missing article in 'with regards to request' and the lowercase 'i' used as a pronoun. You also have some punctuation errors, such as the comma splice in 'as well as, the graphics work'. While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding your message. To achieve a higher band, focus on consistent capitalization, correct article usage, and refining your control over complex sentence structures to ensure they are error-free.

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

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