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)
Respected Sir/Madam,
My name is Maria chanchal. I am working as a personal support worker in a part-time position under your premises.I am writing this letter to request to reduce my working hours in order to study part-time.
As you know, I am studying PSW course at Georgian college.My exams are in an edge. I need a time for preparing for the upcoming exams.By reducing my working hours will benefit my studies.
I would like to work on Monday,Tuesday and Wednesday and also i have a remedial solution for the scheduled shifts of Thursday and Friday. My friend sister is a PSW graduate. She is looking for a PSW causal position.If you are okay with the solution, she is ready to do that position.
Studying part-time study not only benefited my career growth but also benefited to your organization too. In my studies,They
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the preferred schedule, and the benefits to the employer. However, the response is incomplete, ending abruptly mid-sentence, and it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas, particularly the final point regarding how the studies benefit the organization. To improve, ensure all points are fully expanded and the letter is brought to a natural, professional conclusion. The under-length nature of the response prevents a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the flow is interrupted by the incomplete final sentence. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'As you know' and 'not only... but also', but the transition between the proposal of the friend and the benefits to the employer is somewhat abrupt. The lack of a proper closing and the unfinished state of the text negatively affect the overall coherence of the letter.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for a formal letter, using terms like 'personal support worker', 'remedial solution', and 'career growth'. However, there are some awkward phrasings and errors, such as 'my exams are in an edge' (likely meaning 'approaching') and 'my friend sister' (should be 'my friend's sister'). The range is somewhat limited, and the errors occasionally distract from the professional tone required for this task.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The letter contains a mix of simple and some complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'I am working... under your premises' (should be 'at your facility'), 'I need a time' (should be 'I need time'), and 'Studying part-time study' (redundant). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after periods in several places. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors limits the score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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