Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Dear Mr. Smith,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours as I plan to study part time.

Let my explain my situation. I have always wanted to pursue my studies alongwith my job. I have been working on my educational goals since I joined your company. Recently, my exam schedule was posted and my exams are scheduled after two weeks. Therefore, in order to prepare for my exams I have to decrease my working hours.

I would appreciate if you allow me to work in the morning shift, from 8am till 11am. Most of my work is related to planning and organizing the activities of the day and I can easily manage to fulfill my tasks in the early hours of the day. It would allow me to complete my job responsibilities while giving me sufficient time to study at night.

There are several benefits that would come from my part-time studies. First of all my organisational skills will improve leading to better management at work. Secondly, having a highly qualified individual in your team would boost your reputation.

Looking forward to a positive response.

Yours Faithfully,

Haris

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain the need for reduced hours due to upcoming exams, specify the desired shift (8 am to 11 am), and provide two logical benefits for the employer. The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a manager. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, ensuring the reader understands the purpose of the letter immediately. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly on how your specific studies directly translate into value for the company, perhaps by mentioning a specific skill you are learning that will help in your current role.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

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 'Therefore', 'First of all', and 'Secondly' to link your ideas. While the structure is sound, the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words or phrases to connect sentences more fluidly. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall progression of ideas is logical and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task, using terms like 'pursue my studies', 'job responsibilities', and 'organisational skills'. The language is generally natural and fits the formal context of the letter. There are a few minor issues, such as 'alongwith' (which should be two words) and 'Let my explain' (a typo for 'me'). To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations or slightly more sophisticated vocabulary to elevate the tone. Overall, your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your message clearly without any misunderstanding.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'I would appreciate if you allow me to work...' and 'It would allow me to complete my job responsibilities while giving me sufficient time to study at night.' While there are some minor grammatical slips, such as the typo 'Let my explain' and the missing article in 'my exam schedule was posted', these errors do not impede communication. Your control over tense and sentence structure is generally good, and the majority of your sentences are clear and grammatically sound for a formal letter.

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

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