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 John Well,

I hope you are doing great.

I'm writing this letter to request you whether it is possible to reduce my current working hours for 6 months period as I'm planning to study a course for part time to improve my knowledge and skills in my field. I really enjoy working here that's why I don't want to resign instead I would like to continue working but with less working hours.

Currently I'm working from Monday to Friday in morning shifts i.e. 8am - 4pm and the course which I'm planning to take is from 8am - 12pm on same as my working days. So can I please work from 2pm - 6pm shifts for the upcoming six months period.

I personally want to do this course, not for just myself but also for our Company. The advanced skills which I'll develop from this course will help me to get better strategies for gaining more profit and customers trust for our Company.

I would really appreciate if you can consider my request.

Thank you for your support and understandings.

Best Regards,

Alin Maknojia

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request (part-time study), specify the desired working hours (2pm-6pm), and articulate the benefits to the employer (improved strategies and customer trust). The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a manager. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. To reach a higher band, you could provide slightly more specific detail about the course content to further strengthen the argument for how it benefits the company.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a professional closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which aids readability. You use some cohesive devices such as 'currently', 'instead', and 'therefore', though the flow could be improved with more varied linking words. For example, the transition between the request and the proposed hours is functional but could be smoother. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different requirements of the task, making the letter easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task, such as 'resign', 'strategies', and 'appreciate'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For instance, 'request you whether' is grammatically awkward; 'ask you if' or 'request that you consider' would be more natural. Additionally, 'customers trust' should be 'customer trust' or 'the trust of our customers'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical errors. For example, 'request you whether it is possible' is incorrect; it should be 'ask whether it is possible'. You also have some issues with prepositions and articles, such as 'for 6 months period' (should be 'for a six-month period') and 'in morning shifts' (should be 'in the morning shifts'). Despite these errors, they do not impede communication, and the overall structure of the letter is sound.

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

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