Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Dear Sir ,

I am an employee of your company .My name is Shawn .I want to make a submission regarding my working hours.

I have joined a part time business diploma and its timing is conflicting with my working hours.This a business course which shall be beneficial for me as well as help me too perform better for your company as well .The course is about new emerging ideas for business. and how to effectively implement them .The issue is regarding the time ,I had requested my college to adjust my studying time but they say it can not be changed ,so I want to request you to adjust my working hours .If I can be adjusted in eveing shift I shall be very grateful .

Hope you will consider my request and adjust me accordingly .

Thanking you .

With regards .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter covers all three bullet points: explaining the reason for the request, specifying the desired hours, and describing the benefits to the employer. However, the response is slightly under the 150-word minimum, which limits the depth of the development. The explanation of how the studies benefit the employer is somewhat generic ('perform better for your company'). To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples of how the business course skills could be applied to your current role. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, though the structure could be more professional.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your request. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and mechanical. Phrases like 'The issue is regarding the time' and 'The course is about' are simple transitions. There is a lack of varied linking words to connect ideas more fluidly. Additionally, the paragraphing is a bit fragmented, with some very short sentences that disrupt the flow. Improving the use of cohesive devices such as 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in addition' would enhance the overall structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You rely on simple terms like 'timing,' 'issue,' and 'help.' There is little attempt to use less common or more precise vocabulary related to a professional request. For instance, instead of 'make a submission,' a more natural collocation would be 'submit a request.' There are also some minor errors in word choice and phrasing, such as 'adjusted in eveing shift,' which should be 'transferred to the evening shift.' Expanding your range of professional vocabulary will help improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in punctuation and grammar. For example, there are unnecessary spaces before punctuation marks (e.g., 'Sir ,', 'company .'), and some sentences are run-on or lack proper capitalization. The sentence 'This a business course which shall be beneficial...' is missing a verb. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar and punctuation indicate a need for more careful proofreading. Focusing on sentence construction and standard punctuation rules will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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