Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-06

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)

Subject:- Reducing work hours

Respected Sir,

Hope you are doing good, I would like inform you about my further study which is going to start from next month. I would like to start my study although I don’t want to quite my job, as I am planning to apply for higher position in future if I get eligible for it, after getting my higher studies. That is the only reason I request you to decrease my job hours so that I can give sufficient time to my classes.

I would prefer to have evening hours shift so that I can finish my studies and join work even though I am also available for weekends

By getting my higher degree will help to achieve organization goal as well as my personal goal. As I already have experience with this company I know how it’s work and by getting higher degrees it will help me work more effectively with my upgrade knowledge.

So it’s humble request to allow me to work part time by reducing my hours.

Best regards

Abc

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the preferred hours, and the benefits to the employer. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the explanation of how the studies benefit the employer is quite generic ('achieve organization goal'). The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, although the opening 'Respected Sir' is slightly unusual in a modern business context compared to 'Dear [Name]'. The purpose of the letter is clear throughout, and the response covers all requirements of the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. For example, the transition between the request for hours and the benefits is a bit abrupt. There is some repetition of phrases like 'higher studies' and 'higher degree', which affects the flow. While the overall structure is coherent, the letter would benefit from a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in addition') to improve the connection between sentences and ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward phrasing or incorrect word choices, such as 'quite my job' (instead of 'quit'), 'upgrade knowledge' (instead of 'upgraded' or 'improved'), and 'doing good' (instead of 'doing well'). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic terms. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise professional terminology and avoid repetitive phrasing. Spelling errors like 'quite' for 'quit' also detract from the overall quality.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally hinder the flow. Examples include 'I would like inform you' (missing 'to'), 'if I get eligible' (incorrect collocation), and 'how it’s work' (incorrect verb form). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the lack of commas in complex sentences. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors suggests a need for more careful proofreading and a better grasp of verb tenses and prepositional usage.

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

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