Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-13

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)

I am writing to request a changing to my current working hours

As you know, I have been working as a supervisor in the for the past 3 years, I'm keen to further my professional development and have been offered a place on a part time course cnc programme at Open University of Hyderabad, I believe this qualification will enable me to contribute more effectively to the company in the long term department

Due to the class schedule, I would like to ask if it would be possible to reduce my working hours to 4 days per week, or to work from 9 am to 3 pm daily. I am confident that I can complete all my current responsibilities within these hours, and I am willing to adjust deadlines or hand over tasks to colleagues if necessary.

I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss this with you at your convenience. Thank you for considering my request.

Your sincerely

K praveen

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The letter covers all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request (professional development via a course), specify the desired hours (4 days per week or 9 am to 3 pm), and describe the benefit to the employer (contributing more effectively to the company). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a supervisor. To reach a higher band, ensure that the connection between your studies and the company's benefit is more explicitly detailed, perhaps by mentioning specific skills you will acquire that are directly relevant to your current role.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the request from the justification. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat limited. While the flow is generally easy to follow, the transition between the introduction and the body could be smoother. Using more varied linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in addition to this') would help improve the flow and demonstrate a higher level of control over the structure of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'professional development', 'contribute more effectively', and 'at your convenience'. There are some minor errors, such as 'a changing' instead of 'a change' and the slightly awkward phrasing 'cnc programme at Open University'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Expanding your use of collocations and ensuring word forms are used correctly will help improve your score in this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as the comma splice in the first paragraph ('...past 3 years, I'm keen...'), the incorrect article usage ('in the for the past'), and the informal closing 'Your sincerely' (should be 'Yours sincerely'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on punctuation, particularly sentence boundaries, and proofreading for small grammatical slips will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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