Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-07

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 Sir or Madam

I am writing regarding changing my working hours from next coming month, Because i am wishing to study part time for businesses management in the city college.

My mostly classes will be finished by afternoon as i opt for morning classes and some of them are even online at flexible timing. So my availability at work will be changed to evening on weekends and full day on weekends.

My part time course will help me any the business in many ways as i will going to get knowledge about how business runs and how to gain more customers by implementing the stratergies from my course.

Looking forward to hear from you.

Best regards

Simran

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the proposed schedule, and the benefits to the employer. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum, which limits the development of ideas. The explanation of the schedule is confusing, as you mention 'evening on weekends and full day on weekends,' which is contradictory. Furthermore, the benefits to the employer are stated in a very general way. To improve, you need to expand on your points with more detail and ensure your proposed schedule is clear and logical. The under-length penalty is applied here as the task requirements were not fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is brief and lacks a clear paragraph structure. While there is a basic attempt to organize the information, the transitions between ideas are abrupt. The use of cohesive devices is limited, and the overall flow is hindered by the lack of development. To reach a higher band, you should use clear paragraphing—one for each bullet point—and use linking words like 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in addition' to connect your ideas more smoothly. The current structure feels more like a list of sentences than a cohesive letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the range and precision required for a higher score. There are several errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'businesses management' (should be 'business management') and 'stratergies' (spelling error). The phrasing is often repetitive and basic. To improve, try to incorporate more professional, topic-specific vocabulary related to business and employment. Avoid informal phrasing and ensure that your word forms are correct, such as using 'business' as an adjective rather than a plural noun in this context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'from next coming month' (incorrect preposition/article usage), 'Because i am wishing' (incorrect capitalization and sentence fragment), and 'i will going to get' (incorrect verb tense). The sentence structures are mostly simple, and the lack of control over basic grammar rules, such as subject-verb agreement and capitalization, is noticeable. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, verb tenses, and proofreading for common errors like 'i' vs 'I'.

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

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