Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Dear Madam,

It is stated that I was working in Fatima memorial hospital since 2022. I was appointed in your hospital as a medical officer. I signed a contract of 48 hours per week in your HR department. Initially, my only priority was to get a respectable job to learn different skills and patient interactions.

Now I have decided to get higher studies or specialization in a specific subject rather than practicing general medicine anymore. I want to squeeze my working hours from 48 to 36 per week so that I will get some adequate time to study further.

These higher studies will be beneficial for my career growth and upgrading my knowledge in the medical field as you already know that these days there is a high competition in medical field.

I am very obliged if you regards my request and reduce my working hours in order to study part time.

Yours sincerely,

Aumama.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the prompt. You explained the reason for the request (higher studies), specified the desired hours (36 per week), and touched upon the benefit to the employer. However, the third point regarding the benefit to the employer is quite weak; you focused primarily on your own career growth rather than how the hospital would benefit from your specialized knowledge. To improve, you should explicitly state how your new skills will help the hospital, such as providing better patient care or introducing new medical techniques. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, though the development of ideas could be more professional and persuasive.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter follows a logical structure with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Paragraphing is used, though the paragraphs are somewhat short and could be better connected. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Initially' and 'Now', to signal time, but the transition between the request for hours and the benefits to the employer is abrupt. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph flows naturally into the next and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly rather than relying on simple sentence structures.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and sophistication expected at higher bands. Phrases like 'squeeze my working hours' are slightly informal or unnatural in this context; 'reduce' or 'adjust' would be more professional. You use some relevant medical terminology, such as 'medical officer' and 'specialization', which is good. However, there is a lack of less common lexical items. To improve, try to incorporate more formal collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing to demonstrate a wider range of vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical inaccuracies that hinder the flow, such as 'It is stated that I was working' (should be 'I have been working') and 'I am very obliged if you regards my request' (should be 'I would be very grateful if you would consider my request'). These errors are frequent but do not prevent the reader from understanding your message. To improve, focus on mastering verb tenses, particularly the present perfect continuous for duration, and ensure subject-verb agreement.

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

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