Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-11

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,

hope you are great. I wanna request through the letter to the employer for decrease my working hours therefore, I look at the study Part time. I hope you will understand my situation.

I would like to describe to decrease working hours because of this reason is that I am doing graduation in computer field of computer applications. I would not concentrate on my studies. during the Ist semester result . I have not passed with flying colors . day by day which are effect on my studies due to worsening academic results how I felt highly sluggish. I wanna tell that evening time should be best to me. evening hours 5 to 8 hours whom the time I am free a hectic casual.

I wanna discuss that how part time studies would beneficial of their employer . If I will focus on my study whereas I learn the skills how to improve their work and how to manage the time efficiently. therefore, I would be noble person in the future.

I hope you will positive reply from your side regarding this matter .

yours Faithfully,

Anu

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the preferred hours, and the benefits to the employer. However, the development of these ideas is limited by significant language issues. The explanation of the study schedule is somewhat confusing, and the connection between the studies and the employer's benefit is vague and lacks professional depth. While the task requirements are met, the lack of clarity in the expression of ideas prevents a higher score. The tone is also inconsistent, shifting between informal and slightly awkward formal phrasing.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as the repetitive use of 'I wanna' and 'therefore'. The logical progression between sentences is frequently interrupted by grammatical errors, making it difficult to follow the flow of the argument. For example, the transition between the reason for studying and the proposed working hours is abrupt and lacks a clear logical link. Referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly in the second paragraph.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and often inappropriate for a formal letter to an employer. The use of informal contractions like 'wanna' is unsuitable for this task type. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'sluggish' to describe academic performance and 'noble person' to describe professional growth, which do not convey the intended meaning. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to express complex ideas clearly, and the reliance on basic, repetitive phrasing restricts the ability to communicate professionally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There is a lack of control over complex sentence structures, and frequent errors in basic grammar, punctuation, and syntax are present throughout the text. Examples include 'hope you are great' (missing subject), 'I look at the study Part time' (incorrect verb usage), and 'how I felt highly sluggish' (incorrect sentence structure). Subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are also inconsistent. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors causes some difficulty for the reader and prevents the use of a wider range of structures.

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

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