Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to request you that I am no longer be able to work full time due to my part time studies. I would be grateful if you could manage my working hours as it will be really helpful.

As talked previously, I am planning to learn French for immigration purposes and for that I get myself enrolled in alpha college. In particular, as a full time worker it is very hard for me to stay focused in studies while working at a full time position. If you would reduce my hours it enables me to score good marks in exam.

Furthermore, I would like to share my timetable according to my classes. If possible, could you please fix my morning schedule because from 4 pm onwards I have to attend my in person French classes. I would greatly appreciate your assistance with this matter.

Finally, my part time studies would benefit this organization as well. If I clear this French exam I will be able to apply for my permanent residency which in future enables me to work here with this organization for permanent basis.

I would appreciate your response at your earliest convenience and look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Kashish

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the prompt: explaining the reason for the request, specifying the desired hours, and describing the benefits to the employer. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the explanation of how your studies benefit the employer is a bit narrow, focusing primarily on your personal immigration goals rather than professional development that adds value to the company. To reach a higher band, ensure that the benefits to the employer are more clearly articulated in a professional context.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a formal closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore' and 'Finally' to transition between ideas. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by slightly awkward phrasing, such as 'I am writing to request you that I am no longer be able to work'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'immigration purposes', 'at your earliest convenience', and 'organization'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'request you that' instead of 'request that' and 'score good marks' which is slightly informal. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Incorporating more sophisticated collocations and professional terminology would strengthen this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors throughout the text, such as 'I am no longer be able to', 'I get myself enrolled', and 'enables me to work here... for permanent basis'. These errors are noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding your request. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of modal verbs and prepositions. Increasing the number of error-free sentences will help you move into a higher band.

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

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