Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Dear sir/madam,

I am writing to you to express a challenge that I am currently facing which is not being able to give enough time to study part time for my upcoming exams, which is due to my long working hours.

It is requested to help me reduce the load of working hours during the lunch time and give me enough time between 2-4pm during afternoon as it will me devote enough time during the day and help me clear my exams coming forward.

As I mentioned these exams are of utmost importance as it will help me get licensed and eventually benefit the company in long run and fulfill any requirements for the human resource department. I hope to receive a response soon in order to give my hundred percent.

Best,

Sanya

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the specific hours required, and the benefits to the employer. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum, which limits the development of ideas. The explanation of benefits is somewhat generic, and the request for hours is slightly confusing (mentioning 'lunch time' and '2-4pm' simultaneously). To improve, you should expand on how your specific studies directly translate into workplace efficiency or new skills, and ensure your request for hours is clearly articulated to avoid ambiguity.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a basic logical progression, moving from the purpose of the letter to the specific request and finally the benefits. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire body of the letter is compressed into two very short paragraphs. The use of cohesive devices is limited, making the flow feel somewhat mechanical. To improve, use more varied transition signals (e.g., 'Furthermore', 'Consequently', 'In addition to this') and ensure each main idea is developed in its own distinct paragraph to enhance the overall structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. Phrases like 'give me enough time' and 'help me clear my exams' are functional but basic. There is a lack of professional, business-appropriate collocations that would be expected in a formal letter to a manager. To reach a higher band, incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to professional development and workplace negotiations. For example, instead of 'give me enough time', use 'accommodate my academic commitments'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains several grammatical errors that affect clarity. For instance, 'which is due to my long working hours' is a fragment, and 'it will me devote' is missing a verb. The sentence structure is repetitive, relying heavily on simple or slightly awkward complex sentences. There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and proofreading for missing words. Incorporating a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as conditional clauses (e.g., 'If my request is granted, I will be able to...'), would also improve your score.

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.