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 Sir,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing a letter to you for my study part time. I want to decrease my working hours because I have to focus on my studies first, which is essential for me. Because lots of burden on me, like assignments, final exams, and presentations. This is the reason I want to reduce my working hours.

I would prefer afternoon shifts from 10 am to 2 pm. This is convenient for me. Because I get up early in the morning for my exam preparation, and in the evening I have to do practice questions. This is the reason I would like to work in mid day.

To be honest, these hours and my studies are good for my employer. Because it is related to my Business management, after doing this study, I can manage the whole business myself. This is very beneficial for my employer.

Thanks for understanding. I am very happy for your support.

Your Faithfully,

Madhu Bala

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points of the prompt: the reason for the request, the preferred hours, and the benefits to the employer. However, the development of these points is somewhat limited. The explanation of the study benefits is quite vague, stating only that the student can 'manage the whole business myself' without explaining how the specific business management course applies to the current role. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, though the structure is slightly repetitive in its phrasing of reasons. To reach a higher band, the student should provide more specific details regarding the study program and how the skills gained will directly translate into workplace efficiency.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For instance, the student frequently starts sentences with 'Because' or 'This is the reason'. While the logical flow is clear, the transitions between sentences could be more varied to improve the overall cohesion. The use of referencing is generally accurate, but the lack of a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in addition') limits the score. The letter follows a standard formal structure, which is appropriate for the task.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. The student relies on basic terms such as 'good', 'happy', and 'burden'. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'I am writing a letter to you for my study part time', which is slightly unnatural. The student attempts to use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'assignments', 'presentations', and 'business management', but the range remains limited. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the message clearly, but it does not demonstrate the flexibility required for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Many sentences are fragments or lack proper subordination, such as 'Because lots of burden on me, like assignments...' which is grammatically incomplete. There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While the meaning is generally clear and the errors do not significantly impede communication, the lack of control over complex structures prevents a higher score. The student should focus on ensuring that every sentence has a clear subject and verb and practice using more varied sentence connectors to avoid fragmented phrasing.

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

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