Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-16

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 /madam

I am writing this letter to you regarding reduce my schedule working hours due to my upcoming examination.

next month i will have my final year IT exam. That exam most beneficial and important to me for my promotion,futhermore i would think it is beneficial for your company too.in addition i will get school ship for study in abroad by university.

for that reason i would like to request from you if possible reduce my 7 hours working hours instead 8 hours at Monday to Friday for my self study.i consider i am could not get my break time also when working time.

As i mention earlier after done this exam provide benefit for me and your company

I am looking forward to hearing positive response from you regarding my matter .thank you for time and consideration

yours faithfully

roshan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the specific hours, and the benefits to the employer. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which negatively impacts the score. The ideas are somewhat underdeveloped; for instance, the explanation of how the studies benefit the company is vague, stating only that it will 'provide benefit' without explaining how the IT skills gained will specifically assist the employer. To improve, you should expand on these points with more detail and ensure you meet the minimum word count requirement to fully develop your ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the request to the details and then to the benefits. However, the paragraphing is poor, as the entire body is essentially one block of text. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as 'in addition' and 'for that reason'. There are also issues with referencing; for example, 'that exam' is used without a clear antecedent in the previous sentence. Improving the use of linking words and separating your ideas into distinct paragraphs would significantly enhance the flow and readability of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, which limits the ability to convey the request professionally. There are several errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'reduce my schedule working hours' instead of 'reduce my working hours' and 'get school ship' instead of 'receive a scholarship'. The tone is also inconsistent; while it attempts a formal structure, the phrasing is often awkward. To reach a higher band, you need to use more precise vocabulary related to professional requests and ensure that your word choices are accurate and appropriate for a formal letter to a superior.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter, including issues with verb forms ('regarding reduce'), subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and periods, and the capitalization of 'i' is frequently neglected. While the meaning is generally understandable, these errors are persistent and distract the reader. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, correct verb tenses, and standard punctuation rules. Developing a wider range of complex structures, such as using conditional sentences for your request, would also help improve your score.

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

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