Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-08

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 Mr. Smith,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to request for reducing my office hours from September 1, 2026.

I have been working in the sales department for five years in your company. If you provide me opportunity to convert my fulltime job to part time, then I can pursue my Management course, which is a hybrid course. Some classes are in person, for that reason I have to reduce my office hours from 40 to 25.

Regarding my availability, I am available from Monday to Thursday, from 9 am to 2pm. So that I can attend my classes and able to complete my assignments related to this study.

This course not only going to enhance my knowledge regarding managing the crucial task, but also provide me thorough knowledge about project management. This ability would able me to tackle the important projects in more sophisticate manners.

Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to discussing it with you at your convenience.

Yours Sincerely,

Nardeep Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained the reason for the request (pursuing a Management course), specified the desired working hours (Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 2 pm), and described the benefits to your employer (enhanced knowledge in project management). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. To improve, ensure that the connection between your studies and the company's specific needs is even more explicit to make the request more persuasive. Overall, the task is fully addressed with a clear purpose and relevant supporting details.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the request, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Regarding my availability' and 'This course not only...', to link ideas. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. The use of paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the overall progression of ideas is logical and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'hybrid course', 'availability', and 'crucial task'. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'sophisticate manners' (should be 'sophisticated manner') and 'provide me thorough knowledge' (should be 'provide me with thorough knowledge'). While you successfully convey your meaning, the vocabulary is generally functional rather than sophisticated. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing. The errors present do not impede communication, but they do highlight a need for more careful word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the conditional 'If you provide me opportunity... then I can...'. However, there are several grammatical errors, including 'request for reducing' (should be 'request to reduce'), 'provide me opportunity' (should be 'provide me with an opportunity'), and 'This ability would able me' (should be 'This ability would enable me'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding your message. To improve, focus on verb patterns and the correct use of modal verbs and articles.

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

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