Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-14

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 6.5)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to request you for the reduction of my working hours as I am starting my part time studies from 1st September.

Due to increased demand of AI (artificial intelligence) used at majority of IT companies. I want to complete a part time course about artificial intelligence so that I can use my skills towards our company growth and progress using updated softwares as well as developed technology, whereas I will also be helping in training other employees in the same.

Therefore, I would request you to decrease my working hours as I am available to work until 2 pm on weekdays, however I do not mind working on weekends as my course is scheduled for evenings on weekdays which will end within 3 months.

I will be highly obliged to you for granting me the reduced working hours as requested. I hope you consider my request.

Sincerely

Anni

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained the reason for the request (AI studies), specified the desired working hours (until 2 pm on weekdays), and described the benefits to the employer (training others and company growth). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a boss. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring the purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning. No parts of the task were omitted, and the response maintains a consistent focus throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a specific purpose, moving from the request to the justification and then to the logistical details. You have used some cohesive devices such as 'Therefore', 'however', and 'as', which help the flow of the text. While the paragraphing is functional, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be slightly smoother to enhance the overall flow. Overall, the information is easy to follow and the structure is appropriate for a formal letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Terms like 'artificial intelligence', 'company growth', and 'highly obliged' are appropriate for the context. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'request you for the reduction' (which should be 'request a reduction') and 'updated softwares' (software is an uncountable noun). However, these errors do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise collocations and avoid repeating basic structures.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as the sentence fragment 'Due to increased demand of AI... used at majority of IT companies', which should be connected to the main clause. Additionally, 'whereas I will also be helping' is slightly awkward in this context. Punctuation is generally acceptable, though some sentences could be punctuated more effectively to improve clarity. Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout the letter, and the grammar does not significantly hinder the reader's understanding.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.