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 Manger,

I hope this message finds you well. I recently enrolled in part-time course, lasts for two months, and I would like to request to reduce my working hours, which would help me to complete the programme effectively.

I would be grateful if you could allow me to work eight hours from 6.30am to 2.30pm, making it easier for me to attend the evening classes and dedicate extra time to focus on the course. I also appreciate to receive leave from work on weekends for these two months.

This course focus on improving the professional communication skills and developing effective marketing strategies. By completing this course, I can implement in the organization what we learned during the programme. Therefore, even company can benefit from this course.

I hope you will consider my request. I am looking for your prompt response.

Yours sincerely,

Harmeet Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter covers all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the specific hours desired, and the benefits to the employer. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the score. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat brief and could have been expanded to provide more detail, such as explaining the specific nature of the 'professional communication skills' or how they apply to your current role. To improve, ensure you meet the length requirement by elaborating on your points, which will also allow for a more professional and persuasive tone.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a logical structure, with clear paragraphing for each requirement. The use of cohesive devices like 'Therefore' and 'By completing this course' helps the flow of ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the overall progression could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, but the connection between the request for weekend leave and the rest of the letter is a bit abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph flows naturally into the next will help raise your score in this area.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message, such as 'enrolled', 'implement', and 'effectively'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'Dear Manger' (spelling error) and 'I also appreciate to receive leave' (incorrect verb pattern). Additionally, 'even company' is grammatically awkward. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise professional terminology and ensure that your word choices are natural and grammatically correct in context. Expanding your vocabulary related to workplace requests would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'part-time course, lasts for two months' (missing article and relative pronoun), 'This course focus' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'I am looking for your prompt response' (should be 'looking forward to'). These errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles to improve your accuracy.

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

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