Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Dear Jen,

I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours as I am going for a part-time course this summer for a couple of months.

Let me explain my situation in more detail. I have been working in the same position for a very long time. Now I want to upgrade my position as well as make a change in my professional life. I am going to start a course this April at SAIT. It's scheduled for 3 days per week, so it'll be easy for me to balance my job and studies. But to secure some good grades, I need some extra time out of my employment to focus on education.

Ideally, I would like to work Monday to Thursday from 8am to 5pm and will need 3 days straight off.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses the main requirements of the prompt, such as explaining the reason for the request and specifying the desired hours. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum, which negatively impacts the development of your ideas. Specifically, the third bullet point regarding how your studies would benefit the employer is underdeveloped; you mention wanting to 'upgrade' your position but fail to explain how the new skills gained from the course will add value to the company. To improve, ensure you fully expand on each bullet point to meet the length requirement and provide a more professional, persuasive tone.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, and the progression of ideas is generally clear. You use basic cohesive devices like 'Let me explain' and 'But to secure', which help the reader follow your train of thought. However, the transition between the explanation of your situation and the specific request for hours is somewhat abrupt. To reach a higher band, try to use a wider range of linking words and phrases to connect your sentences more fluidly, and ensure that the closing of the letter is included to provide a sense of completion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your needs clearly. Phrases like 'upgrade my position' and 'balance my job and studies' are functional. However, the range is somewhat limited and relies on fairly simple, repetitive language. To improve, incorporate more precise professional terminology related to workplace requests and academic development. For example, instead of saying 'make a change', you could use 'pursue professional development'. The vocabulary is sufficient for the task but lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a good grasp of basic sentence structures, and your writing is generally easy to understand. There are few grammatical errors, such as 'I am going for a part-time course', which would be more naturally phrased as 'I am enrolling in a part-time course'. You rely mostly on simple and compound sentences; to improve, you should aim to incorporate more complex structures, such as conditional sentences (e.g., 'If I were to complete this course, I would be able to...') to demonstrate greater grammatical control and variety.

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

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