Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-04

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 Manager,

I am writing to know that, I am not able to do full time working because I am student due to this I am not able to do more than 24 hours work so here I am requesting you to reduce my working hours to balance my work and study together.

As my college are on just Monday and Tuesday so I am able to work on both weekdays and weekends so I am do work according to your requirement and days.

According to my opinion, my part-time studies would benefit you in a best way because sometimes it is very hard for employer to give fully hours due to part time worker if sometimes you are not able to give me proper hours I am also fine with that even you can also call me for work whenever you want and exchange my working day to another day which would help you in a best way during busy hours.

All in all,

Best regards

Amandeep Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task: explaining the need for reduced hours, specifying the desired schedule, and describing the benefits to the employer. However, the development of these points is somewhat limited. The explanation of the benefits is repetitive and slightly confusing, particularly the section regarding 'giving fully hours.' To improve, ensure your arguments are clearly articulated and directly linked to the employer's needs. While the tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, the lack of clarity in the third paragraph prevents a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter follows a basic logical structure, but the progression of ideas is hindered by awkward phrasing and a lack of cohesive devices. You use 'All in all' at the end, which is more suited to an essay than a formal letter. Paragraphing is present, but the transitions between sentences are often abrupt or mechanical. To improve, use linking words such as 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in addition' to connect your ideas more smoothly. Additionally, ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus to help the reader follow your argument without confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is functional but limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'do work' and 'in a best way' are simplistic and lack the precision required for a higher band. There is also some misuse of terminology, such as 'give fully hours,' which makes the meaning unclear. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and professional business terminology. Avoid repeating the same phrases within the same paragraph. Expanding your range of vocabulary will help you express your needs more professionally and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('my college are'), sentence structure ('I am writing to know that, I am not able to...'), and article usage. Many sentences are run-on or lack proper punctuation, which makes the text difficult to read. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors impacts the overall flow. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, ensuring each sentence has a clear subject and verb, and practice using complex structures like relative clauses or conditional sentences more accurately.

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

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