Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-12

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,

I would liking to inform you that I am going to take part time study so I need less working hours.

I want to reduce my working hours because I am going to take admission in pharmacy course for two months through this I can secure my future. Therefore, I also need less hours to be focus on my study and practical which should be done in class so I need proper focus and understanding.

Ideally, I mainly work on only weekends and sometime in the evening so I can attend my classes also and do work also. Through this study, company can also be benefit because I can have pharmacy license and first aid if whenever in work place any mishappening is there so I can handle that situation also and give immediate precautions.

I kindly request you to give me less work hours and understand my situation. I really appreciate your work, support and kindness.

Yours respectfully,

Honey.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points of the prompt: the reason for the request, the proposed schedule, and the benefits to the employer. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter to a boss. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the explanation of how the pharmacy course benefits the employer is a bit repetitive and could be more professionally articulated. While the task requirements are met, the response lacks the depth and professional polish expected at higher bands. The purpose of the letter is clear, and the reader understands the request immediately.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of the request. There is a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'through this', 'therefore'). Some transitions between sentences feel abrupt, and the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect ideas more naturally. Despite these minor issues, the overall structure is coherent, and the message is easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'take admission in pharmacy course' and 'mishappening is there'. These errors occasionally hinder the natural flow of the writing. While the student successfully conveys the intended meaning, the range of vocabulary is limited, and there is a lack of precision in word choice. To improve, the student should focus on learning more professional collocations and formal business terminology suitable for a workplace request.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the quality of the writing. Examples include 'I would liking to inform you', 'I need less working hours' (should be 'fewer'), and 'company can also be benefit'. These errors are noticeable and occur throughout the letter. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of control over basic verb forms and sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band. More attention to subject-verb agreement and article usage is required.

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

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