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 manager,

i am writing to letter regarding to reduce my working hours during my last semester. Now i am working 35 hours per week as well as i am studying.i have tried to balance between study and work but i could not succeed.so i have a request to reduce my working hours for next two months because i need to focus my study.as aresult, it will benifit to bussiness as well.i am studying bussiness related course.

secondly, i prefer to work not only 25 hour per week but also evening shift,thus i can go to colleage in the morning time, in addition i can revised the study at night.

i have specific subject for study as software engineering which are usually use in office everyday ,as consequestion, if we have any problem in office computer, i can repair quickly

i have hope that my requiest will be pass.

your employee

xyz

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 development of these ideas is quite limited. For instance, the explanation of how software engineering skills would benefit the office is somewhat vague and lacks professional polish. The tone is also inconsistent; while it attempts a formal request, the phrasing is often informal or awkward, such as 'i have hope that my requiest will be pass.' To improve, you should expand on your ideas with more professional language and ensure the tone remains consistently formal throughout the letter.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or incorrect. For example, 'as aresult' and 'as consequestion' are used to link ideas, but the spelling and punctuation are inaccurate. The transition between the request for hours and the explanation of benefits is abrupt. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using a wider range of linking words correctly and ensuring that each paragraph flows logically into the next without relying on repetitive or misused connectors.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, with several spelling errors that occasionally distract the reader, such as 'bussiness', 'colleage', 'requiest', and 'benifit'. While you attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'software engineering', the overall range is limited. Many phrases are awkward, such as 'i am writing to letter regarding to reduce'. To improve, you need to focus on accurate spelling and expanding your vocabulary to include more precise, professional collocations suitable for a formal business request.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There is a lack of control over basic grammatical structures. Frequent errors include missing articles, incorrect verb forms ('i have hope that my requiest will be pass'), and issues with sentence boundaries. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with many sentences lacking proper capitalisation. While you attempt some complex structures, they are often faulty, which hinders clarity. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and ensuring that your punctuation and capitalisation follow standard English rules.

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

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