Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-18

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 6.0)

Dear Manager,

I am writing this letter to inform you that i want to decrease my working hours as i have decided to study a part-time full stack web development course.

As you know i have previously joined your team as a front-end developer so, sometimes i am unable to solve the troubleshooting problems occurred in coding related to python and java. This course will help me to cope up with these problems.

My classes for this study will held in morning from Monday to Friday. So i would like to work in the evening after my classes and i am free on weekends for full-time.

This study will not only help me to getting better in coding but also in the communication skills. I will also have advanced technical skills related to python and java script to which i think the skills that our team needs.

i look forward to hear from you.

Yours faithfully,

Rajbir

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The letter covers all three bullet points required by the prompt: the reason for the request, the proposed schedule, and the benefits to the employer. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For example, the explanation of how the course benefits the employer is a bit repetitive, focusing primarily on coding skills. To reach a higher band, you should expand on how these skills will specifically translate into increased productivity or value for the company, rather than just stating it will help with 'troubleshooting problems'. The purpose is clear throughout, and the letter fulfills the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, each addressing a specific part of the prompt. There is a clear progression of ideas from the introduction of the request to the proposed schedule and the justification. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat basic and occasionally mechanical. For instance, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. While the letter is coherent, the linking of sentences relies on simple conjunctions like 'so' and 'and'. Improving the variety of cohesive devices (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in addition to this') would enhance the flow and logical connection between your ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your request clearly. You use some relevant technical terms like 'full stack web development' and 'front-end developer'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'joined your team' (instead of 'started working in your team') and 'troubleshooting problems occurred' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning, but it lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. You have several recurring errors, such as the failure to capitalize the personal pronoun 'i' throughout the letter. There are also grammatical slips, such as 'will held' (should be 'will be held'), 'help me to getting' (should be 'help me to get'), and 'to which i think the skills' (which is syntactically incorrect). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall impression. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent capitalization will significantly improve your score.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.