Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to request you to reduce my working hours and transition from full-time employment to part-time employment for minimum of two weeks.

I want to explain to you the main reason behind this request. I am planning to pursue further courses to upgrade my skills and education. I already registered in one of the courses named basic and advanced ultrasound skills. To avail that certification, I need to attend evening courses and mandatory examination at the end of the course.

I would like to prefer morning shift at work. This would allow me to attend my course in the evening. I request you to reduce my working hours as well. This would be beneficial for me to stay alert during evening time. I can guarantee that this will not affect my current responsibilities. I already spoke with my colleagues to compensate this duration in collaboration with my team. My absence will not affect our company work.

As we are working as a team. My advancement in skills and qualifications will give a positive impact on company. I can perform advanced ultrasounds in our facility. This will enhance our budget and increase the customer's number.

It would be grateful if you help me in this matter

I look forward to hearing from you

yours sincerely

xyz

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter covers all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request (pursuing ultrasound certification), specify the preferred shift (morning), and outline the benefits to the employer (performing advanced ultrasounds). However, the opening sentence is slightly confusing, as you mention a transition to part-time for a 'minimum of two weeks,' which sounds more like a temporary leave than a permanent change in working hours. To improve, ensure your purpose is stated more clearly and professionally from the outset. The ideas are relevant and sufficiently developed to meet the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different requirements of the task. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'This would allow' and 'As we are working as a team,' to link ideas. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical or abrupt, such as the jump between discussing the shift change and the benefits to the company. Improving the flow between sentences using a wider variety of linking words would help the text read more naturally and cohesively.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'transition,' 'certification,' and 'qualifications.' There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'I would like to prefer morning shift' (should be 'I would prefer the morning shift') and 'increase the customer's number' (should be 'increase the number of customers'). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on using more natural collocations and ensuring that your word choices are precise and contextually appropriate for a formal business letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'I am writing to request you to reduce' (better: 'I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours'), 'already registered in one of the courses' (should be 'enrolled in'), and 'It would be grateful' (should be 'I would be grateful'). Punctuation is generally functional, though there are some minor issues with sentence boundaries. While these errors are noticeable, they rarely impede the reader's understanding of your message. Increasing your control over complex structures will help improve your score.

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

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