Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

Hello sir,

I am writing you this letter regarding my working hours which I want to change for reason.

Well here I want to inform you that I want to change my working hours because I have exam coming a head and I need to study part time.

I would like to request you for the timing I would required is afternoon shift that is from 1:30 PM to 7:30 PM reason is morning I to attend lectures which very important and it is kind of hard so I have to focus.

Making one thing sure about your working hours is if you have given me a extra job or if have to sit till late night in the office I will definitely work. However both the things are important to me my work and my study. So definitely I will make sure all the work will be done a good manner.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the preferred hours, and the benefit to the employer. However, the third point—how the studies benefit the employer—is not explicitly addressed. The student mentions that they will still work hard, but fails to explain how the new knowledge gained from the studies will add value to the company. The tone is somewhat informal and lacks the professional structure expected in a formal request to a boss. Ideas are present but under-developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter lacks clear paragraphing, which is essential for professional correspondence. The ideas are presented in a single block, making it difficult to follow the logical progression. While there are some attempts at linking ideas, such as 'However' and 'So', the transitions are often mechanical or misused. The overall structure is disjointed, and the lack of a formal closing (e.g., 'Yours sincerely') further impacts the coherence of the letter as a formal document.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'I want to change' and 'I would like to request' are functional but limited. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'exam coming a head' (ahead) and 'making one thing sure'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to express professional intentions with precision. To improve, the student should focus on using more formal collocations and business-appropriate terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('I to attend lectures') and missing articles ('in a good manner'). Sentence structures are mostly simple or contain errors when attempting complexity. Punctuation is inconsistent, particularly with the lack of commas to separate clauses, which makes some sentences difficult to parse. The control of grammar is weak, and errors are frequent enough to occasionally impede the clarity of the message.

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

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