Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-17

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 Sam

I hope you are doing well.

I would like to inform you , regarding the reduction of my time in office as you are well aware of that I had continued my study after I joined here.

Therefore it is hindering my studies and I am not able to focus on my studies I will be happy if you could reduce my work so the impact won't get on my studies.

Additionally you know how important it is for me to do this part time job , as it improved my skills and I don't feel like a burden anymore here.

It is a humble request if you could made my timings in the evening 6:00pm to 9:00pm , instead of 3:00pm to 8:00pm.

I will be grateful to you , if you will help me out in this. Furthermore I assure you that on weekends I will manage the work on early bases.

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 benefits to the employer. However, the development of these points is somewhat weak. For instance, the benefit to the employer is vague, stating only that the job 'improved my skills' without explaining how these skills would specifically help the company. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, but the explanation regarding the conflict between work and study is slightly repetitive and lacks professional clarity. To improve, ensure that the benefits to the employer are more explicitly linked to the company's productivity or your specific role.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organised into short paragraphs, which is appropriate for a formal letter. However, the flow between ideas is sometimes disjointed. For example, the transition from explaining the need for reduced hours to the request for specific timings is abrupt. While some cohesive devices like 'Additionally' and 'Furthermore' are used, they are occasionally placed awkwardly. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the phrase 'the impact won't get on my studies,' which is grammatically confusing and hinders the logical progression of the argument. Better use of linking phrases would improve the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. Phrases like 'reduce my work' and 'help me out' are functional but quite basic. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'manage the work on early bases,' which is not standard English. The range of vocabulary is limited, and the student relies on simple, repetitive structures to convey meaning. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more professional, topic-specific vocabulary related to workplace negotiations and professional development.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'if you could made my timings' contains a tense error ('made' instead of 'make'), and 'as you are well aware of that I had continued my study' is syntactically clumsy. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct modal verb usage would significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.

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

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