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. Pranto,

Good morning. I hope you are doing well.

As I mentioned previously, I need to attend university four days a week. Therefore, I would like to request a reduction in my working hours so that I can attend my classes regularly while continuing to fulfill my responsibilities at work.

If my working hours are reduced, I will be able to focus more effectively on my studies and dedicate additional time to developing my professional skills. This will allow me to learn new skills and apply them to my work, which I believe will contribute positively to the organization.

Therefore, I would like to request permission to work from 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM on each working day. I believe this arrangement would help me maintain a better balance between my university studies and professional responsibilities. It would also give me the opportunity to improve my English and develop other skills that can enhance my communication and overall performance at work.

I would be very grateful if you would kindly consider my request and allow me to follow this schedule. Thank you very much for your time, understanding, and consideration.

Sincerely,

Mehedi Hasan

Email: [[redacted email]]

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly explain the need to study, specify the desired hours, and outline the benefits to the employer. The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a supervisor. However, there is a significant logical error in your request: you ask to work from '10:00 AM to 1:00 AM', which implies a 15-hour workday. This contradicts the goal of reducing your hours to study. While the ideas are relevant, this oversight affects the clarity of your request. To reach a higher band, ensure that all details provided are logically consistent with the purpose of the letter.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a formal closing. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use cohesive devices such as 'Therefore', 'If my working hours are reduced', and 'It would also' to link your ideas effectively. The progression of information is logical, moving from the request to the justification and finally the benefits. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'fulfill my responsibilities', 'contribute positively to the organization', and 'maintain a better balance' are well-chosen and appropriate for a professional context. There are no significant spelling errors, and your word choice is generally accurate. To improve further, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to show greater flexibility, as the current vocabulary is functional but somewhat standard.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

Your grammar is generally strong, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use conditional sentences ('If my working hours are reduced, I will be able to...') and relative clauses effectively. The punctuation is accurate, and the sentences are mostly error-free. There are no major grammatical slips that impede communication. To aim for a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice or inverted conditionals, to demonstrate greater control over more sophisticated grammatical forms.

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

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