Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-10

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 Sir or Madam,

I am writing to request you to approve my reduced working hours schedule. I have started a part time business course to upgrade my skills. As a result I need proper time to study and this would be possible only if I will reduce my working hours.

Currently, I am working for all five weekdays with occasional weekends as needed but from now onwards I will only work for 4 weekdays. I will make sure that the office work will not impact because of me and you can contact me any time during an emergency.

Moreover, studying business course will eventually helps me to grow in my career and would be beneficial for the company. The skills including the new software used in the industry will benefit both of us. I hope you will consider my request to reduce my working hours.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Mike.

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 reason for the request (a business course), specify the desired schedule (4 weekdays), and articulate the benefits to the employer (new software skills and career growth). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific detail regarding which four days you intend to work or elaborate further on how the specific software skills will be applied to your current role, which would better develop your ideas.

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 task. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover' and 'As a result' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally slightly mechanical. For example, the transition between the current work schedule and the proposed schedule could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall progression of the letter is easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a Band 6 or 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'upgrade my skills', 'eventually', and 'beneficial'. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'impact because of me' (which is slightly unnatural) and 'studying business course' (which is missing an article). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the variety and precision of less common lexical items that would be expected at a higher band level. Focusing on more precise collocations would improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'I am writing to request...' and 'I will make sure that the office work will not impact...'. There are several grammatical errors, including 'if I will reduce' (should be 'if I reduce'), 'studying business course' (missing 'a'), and 'eventually helps me' (should be 'help'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. To improve, ensure consistent use of verb tenses and check for missing articles, which are frequent in your writing.

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

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