Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to request some changes in working hours as currently I am a part time student in Red River College in Application development and delivery program.
Firstly, I wanted to reduce my working hours as it would be really hard for me study as well continue with full time job. I really wanted to take this course from last 4 months but seats were not available in this college.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to address the task requirements significantly. While you mention the desire to reduce hours and the reason (the college course), you have not specified which hours you would like to work, nor have you explained how your studies would benefit your employer. Furthermore, the response is severely under-length at only 75 words, which is less than half of the required 150-word minimum. This prevents the development of ideas and results in a failure to cover the bullet points adequately. To improve, you must ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed and meet the minimum word count.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The letter is very brief, making it difficult to assess the overall coherence and progression of ideas. There is a basic attempt at paragraphing, but the text ends abruptly before a proper conclusion or sign-off can be established. Cohesive devices are minimal; for example, 'Firstly' is used, but there is no follow-up or logical flow to the subsequent points. To improve, you should structure your letter with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each bullet point, and a formal closing, using linking words to connect your ideas more effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'really hard for me' and 'really wanted to take' are informal and lack the precision expected in a formal letter to an employer. There is little attempt to use less common or topic-specific vocabulary related to professional requests or academic development. To improve, try to incorporate more formal collocations and precise terminology, such as 'professional development' or 'mutually beneficial arrangement', to demonstrate a wider range of vocabulary appropriate for a business context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors that affect clarity. For instance, 'I am a part time student in Red River College in Application development' should be 'at Red River College in the Application Development program'. There are also tense inconsistencies, such as 'I really wanted to take this course from last 4 months', which should be 'I have wanted to take this course for the last four months'. The sentence structures are simple, and there is a lack of complex grammatical forms. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.