Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to request a reduction in my working hours as I am planning to begin part time study. I have decided to pursue further education in order to enhance my skills and gain additional knowledge relevant to my career.

I would like to reduce my work hours to part time, preferably working form 9:00 am to 2:00 pm from Monday to Friday. This schedule would me to attend the classes as well as able to manage both work and study together.

I believe that my studies not only help me in my career development but also gave me more knowledge to develop my professional skills and technical knowledge . This would enhance my performance and enables me to contribute more effectively as a team member.

I kindly request you to consider my situation and approve my request. I look forward to your response.

Thank you for your understanding and time.

Your Sincerely,

Sam

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request (further education), specify the desired hours (9:00 am to 2:00 pm), and describe the benefits to the employer (enhanced professional skills and technical knowledge). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a boss. To reach a higher band, ensure that the benefits to the employer are slightly more specific or detailed, as the current explanation is a bit generic. Overall, the purpose of the letter is clear and the requirements are fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'I am writing this letter to', 'I would like to', and 'I believe that'. While the structure is sound, the use of linking words is somewhat repetitive. To improve, try incorporating a wider variety of cohesive devices, such as 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'in addition to this', to create a smoother flow between your ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'pursue further education', 'career development', and 'contribute more effectively'. However, there are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'working form' (should be 'from') and 'Your Sincerely' (should be 'Yours sincerely'). The vocabulary is functional and clear, but it lacks the sophistication or 'less common' lexical items that would push the score into the 8.0 range. Focusing on more precise collocations will help improve your lexical precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is generally effective. However, there are several grammatical slips that hinder the accuracy of the text. For example, 'This schedule would me to attend' is missing a verb (should be 'would allow me'), and 'not only help me... but also gave me' shows inconsistent verb tense usage (should be 'helps' and 'gives'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Proofreading for subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage is highly recommended.

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

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