Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-15

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)

Dear Sir,

I am writing letter with regading reduce my working hours.

I am working a worker with Roy. He is supervisor. I would like to explain that I am doing constuction study with work moreover, I want to reduce my working hours because of I have to give time on study. This is also important for me.

Furthermore, I would like to work morning 8am to afternoon 2 till. Rest of time I want to give to my study

My part time studies would benefiel for me because you because I am doing contuntion study and we are doing this job. That is why study give me will give me more knowledge which I can use for my work. It would be give profit to you.

If you need any futher information regading this, let me know.

Thank you for your conceradation,

Mandeep Singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the preferred hours, and the benefits to the employer. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited and repetitive. The explanation of the study benefits is vague, and the overall length is below the 150-word requirement, which negatively impacts the task completion. The tone is somewhat informal and lacks the professional polish expected in a formal request to a supervisor. To improve, you should expand on the specific nature of your studies and provide more concrete examples of how the new skills will directly contribute to your current workplace responsibilities.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organised into short paragraphs, which is appropriate for a formal letter. However, the use of cohesive devices is very limited and often mechanical. Phrases like 'Furthermore' are used, but the connection between sentences is often weak, making the flow feel disjointed. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the sentence 'I am working a worker with Roy', which lacks logical progression. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus that transitions smoothly into the next.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive, with several errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'regading' (regarding), 'constuction' (construction), 'benefiel' (beneficial), and 'conceradation' (consideration). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to express complex ideas clearly. Many phrases are awkward, such as 'I am working a worker with Roy'. To improve, you should focus on learning correct collocations for professional correspondence and proofreading for common spelling errors. Expanding your vocabulary related to workplace requests and professional development would also be highly beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with sentence structure, verb tense, and prepositions. Examples include 'I am writing letter with regading reduce' and 'It would be give profit to you'. The sentence structures are predominantly simple, and attempts at more complex sentences are often faulty, which hinders clarity. The frequent errors in basic grammar, such as subject-verb agreement and article usage, indicate a need for a stronger grasp of fundamental English grammar rules. Focusing on sentence construction and proofreading for basic errors will help improve your score.

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

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